English Dictionary

barleycorn

/ˈbɑː(ɹ)liˌkɔː(ɹ)n/

noun

A grain of barley. / (obsolete) The length of such a grain; a unit of length of approximately one third (or sometimes one quarter) of an inch or eight millimetres, still used as a basis for shoe sizes.

I found a barleycorn in my soup.

意味（1）

A grain of barley.

The Town Mouse came, and they sat down to a dinner of barleycorns and roots, the latter of which had a distinctly earthy flavour.

意味（2）

(obsolete) The length of such a grain; a unit of length of approximately one third (or sometimes one quarter) of an inch or eight millimetres, still used as a basis for shoe sizes.

This trip to Italy has actually enlarged the diameter of my head thirteen barleycorns!

意味（3）

(architecture, woodworking) A small groove between two mouldings.