barnstormer
|barn-storm-er|
🇺🇸
/ˈbɑrnˌstɔrmər/
🇬🇧
/ˈbɑːnˌstɔːmə/
traveling, energetic performer
Etymology
'barnstormer' originates from American English, formed from the verb 'barnstorm' plus the agent suffix '-er'; 'barnstorm' itself combines 'barn' and 'storm' used figuratively to mean 'to attack or visit with great energy.'
'barnstorm' appeared in early 20th-century U.S. English describing entertainers who toured rural areas performing in barns; 'barnstormer' developed from that verb to name the person who did the touring.
Initially it referred specifically to performers or pilots who toured and gave shows in barns or made stunt flights; over time it also came to mean an energetic touring campaigner and, informally, any spectacular performance.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a traveling performer or entertainer who gives shows in small towns or temporary venues, originally in barns.
The barnstormer drew large crowds in the rural town with his minstrel show.
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Noun 2
a pilot who performs aerial stunts or demonstration flights, especially common in the early days of aviation.
After the war he became a barnstormer, thrilling audiences with loop-the-loops and low passes.
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Noun 3
an energetic campaigner or speaker who travels widely to give rousing speeches.
The candidate was a barnstormer, speaking in dozens of towns over a two-week period.
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Noun 4
informal: an especially exciting, dramatic, or sensational performance or event.
That last quarter was a barnstormer and secured the team's comeback victory.
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Last updated: 2026/01/17 20:01