Barbell

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈbɑɹˌbɛl/

Definitions

1. An exercise device comprising a long straight rod with weights affixed at both ends serves as a primary tool for building strength
2. A weightlifting instrument consisting of an elongated bar attached to weights on either side is primarily used for muscle resistance exercise
3. A strength training implement featuring a long, straight pole with weighted ends is utilized primarily for enhancing muscular strength and endurance

Etymology: The word is a blend of "bar" and "dumbbell," so it is a fairly modern coinage built from two existing pieces rather than an old word that changed shape. A dumbbell is a short bar with weights at each end, designed to be held in one hand. Joining "bar" to it produced a name for the longer, straight-pole version used for heavier lifts such as squats, presses and deadlifts, which need two hands and weights loaded onto the ends. The same word is also used for a piercing, a jewelry item with a straight bar and a ball or ornament at each end, passed through the skin. The piercing borrowed the name from the exercise equipment because the two look alike, a shared shape rather than any shared purpose.