bard¹ (bärd)
n.

1. One of an ancient Celtic order of minstrel poets who composed and recited verses celebrating the legendary exploits of chieftains and heroes.
2. A poet, especially a lyric poet.

[Middle English, from Irish and Scottish Gaelic bard and from Welsh bardd.]

bardic bard'ic adj.

bard² also barde (bärd)
n.
A piece of armor used to protect or ornament a horse.

tr.v., bard·ed, bard·ing, bards.

1. To equip (a horse) with bards.
2. To cover (meat) in thin pieces of bacon or fat to preserve moisture during cooking.

[Middle English barde, from Old French, from Old Italian barda, from Arabic barda'a, packsaddle, from Persian pardah. See purdah.]

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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