Barnett

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A family name of English origin, borne by people who share this surname across many countries
2. A common English surname that has been carried by numerous families and notable individuals over the centuries
3. An inherited last name of English origin, used as a personal identifier within a family line

Etymology: Barnett is best known as a surname, and as a spelling it is a variant of the place name Barnet, the London district on the northern edge of the city. Barnet had a long-running horse fair, and that fair is the source of the slang that the spelling may be confused with. In London slang, "barnet" (spelled "Barnet" or, less often, "barnett") is rhyming slang for hair, from "Barnet Fair." The slang is usually used with the rhyme dropped, so "a haircut" might become "a barnet cut." The spelling with two t's is uncommon in the slang and is more often a surname or a misspelling of the slang. If you encountered it in a specific text, check whether the writer meant the surname, the place, or the slang.