Bark

Part of speech: noun, verb

Pronunciation: /bɑːk/

Definitions

1. The protective outer layer of a tree, a sound produced by certain animals often signaling urgency, and a way of speaking that is direct and forceful are all encompassed in this term
2. The tough outer layer of a tree trunk or branch that shields it from damage ; a short, loud cry made by a dog or similar animal ; to utter a brisk, commanding remark
3. The rigid covering that envelops the trunk and branches of a tree serving as defense against harm ; a sharp vocalization from dogs or similar creatures often expressing alertness ; a sudden, terse, or harsh spoken command or order

Etymology: Tree bark and the sound a dog makes are, etymologically, two different words that happened to land on the same spelling. The sound sense comes from Old English "beorcan," tied to a Proto-Germanic root meaning to make a noise, growl or hum, and it has cousins across Germanic and Baltic languages. The tree covering is a separate word, Old English "beorc" (or "barc"), which traces back to a Proto-Germanic root shared with Old Norse "bǫrkr," the word for the outer layer of a tree. Its relatives include Danish "bark," Icelandic "börkur," and Albanian "berk," meaning bast, the fibrous inner layer of bark. A third word, meaning a small sailing vessel, also reached English as "barke" from Middle French "barque." That word travelled a long way: Late Latin "barca," Classical Latin "bāris," and Ancient Greek "βᾶρις" (bâris), which referred to an Egyptian boat. Its ultimate source is the Egyptian term for a transport ship, so the boat and the tree-covering sit in unrelated corners of the family tree.

Synonyms: cortex, peel, shell

Antonyms: flesh, core