Barker

UK: /ˈbɑːkə/ US: /ˈbɑrkɚ/ ,(bär′kər)

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

Barker / ˈbɑːkə/ noun

1. Billy, full name William George Barker. 1894–1930, Canadian fighter pilot during World War I; the most decorated military serviceman in British Empire history
2. George (Granville). 1913–91, British poet: author of Calamiterror (1937) and The True Confession of George Barker (1950)
3. Howard. born 1946, British playwright: his plays include Claw (1975), The Castle (1985), A Hard Heart (1992), and 13 Objects (2003)
4. Ronnie, full name Ronald William George Barker. 1929–2005, British comedian: known esp for his partnership with Ronnie Corbett (1930–2016) in the TV series The Two Ronnies (1971–85)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

bark•er¹ /ˈbɑrkɚ/   n. [countable]

1. Show Business a person who stands at the entrance to a show and calls out its attractions to people walking by.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

bark•er¹  (bär′kər), n. 

1. an animal or person that barks.
2. Show Business a person who stands before a theater, carnival sideshow, or the like, calling out its attractions to passers-by.

• Middle English berker, berkar. See bark¹, -er¹ 1350–1400

bark•er²  (bär′kər), n. 

1. a person or thing that removes bark from trees.
2. Clothing a person or thing that prepares bark for tanning.

• late Middle English. See bark² (verb, verbal), -er¹ 1375–1425, earlier as surname

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

barker / ˈbɑːkə/ noun

1. an animal or person that barks
2. a person who stands at a show, fair booth, etc, and loudly addresses passers-by to attract customers