barnstormers
|barn-storm-ers|
🇺🇸
/ˈbɑrnˌstɔrmər/
🇬🇧
/ˈbɑːn.stɔː.mə/
(barnstormer)
traveling, energetic performer
Etymology
'barnstormer' originates from American English, specifically formed from the verb 'barnstorm', where 'barn' meant 'a farm building' and 'storm' was used figuratively to mean 'to assault or rush into a place with great energy'.
'barnstorm' emerged in early 20th-century United States to describe performers who 'stormed' barns by giving shows there; 'barnstormer' developed from this verb and became the noun for those performers.
Initially, it meant 'one who performed in barns,' but over time it evolved to mean 'an itinerant showman' and figuratively 'a sensational performer or performance.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
plural form of 'barnstormer'.
The barnstormers moved on to the next town after a sold-out show.
Noun 2
itinerant entertainers or performers who toured small towns, especially historically those who performed in barns or makeshift venues.
In the 1920s, barnstormers brought popular music and comedy to rural communities.
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Noun 3
spectacular or sensational performers or performances; a show that excites great enthusiasm.
Both games were barnstormers that kept fans on their feet until the final minute.
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Last updated: 2026/01/17 20:17