barrel-free
|bar-rel-free|
/ˈbærəlˌfriː/
without barrels
Etymology
'barrel-free' originates from Modern English, formed by compounding 'barrel' and 'free', where 'barrel' referred to a wooden cask and 'free' is used in the sense 'without' (as in 'sugar-free').
'barrel' came into English from Middle English 'baril'/'barel' borrowed from Old French 'baril', ultimately traceable to Late Latin forms (e.g., 'barrīculum'); 'free' comes from Old English 'frēo' (from Proto-Germanic *frijaz). The compound 'barrel-free' is a recent formation following the productive Modern English pattern of noun + 'free' compounds (e.g., 'gluten-free').
Originally 'free' meant 'not in bondage; exempt'. Over time its use postpositively after nouns expanded to mean 'without [X]' (e.g., 'sugar-free'), and 'barrel-free' now means 'without barrels'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
not containing or using barrels; free of barrels (e.g., storage or packaging that does not use barrels or casks).
The winery produced an experimental batch stored in barrel-free containers.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Adjective 2
in technical contexts (e.g., weapons or projectile systems), describing a design that lacks a conventional barrel or barrel-based mechanism.
Researchers are working on a barrel-free propulsion system that accelerates projectiles electromagnetically.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/07 20:36