| barn | <radiobiology> Unit of area equal to 1x10^-24 square centimetres (or 1x10^-28 square metres). Commonly used in describing cross-sections of atomic, nuclear, and particle interactions. (see cross section). (09 Oct 1997) |
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| barnacle | 1. <zoology> Any cirriped marine crustacean free swimming in the larval state, but permanently fixed as adults, adhering to rocks, floating timber, ships, etc. There are some 800 described species, grouped in several genera, including lepas, balanus, scalpellum, and the stalked or goose barnacles (genus Lepas and allies). 2. <zoology> Barnacle eater, a bark louse (Ceroplastes cirripediformis) of the orange and quince trees in Florida. The female scale curiously resembles a sessile barnacle in form. 3. <veterinary> An instrument for pinching a horse's nose, and thus restraining him. 4. Spectacles; so called from their resemblance to the barnacles used by farriers. Origin: Prob. From E. Barnacle a kind of goose, which was popularly supposed to grow from this shellfish. Source: Websters Dictionary (03 Jul 1999) |
| Barnes' curve | A curve corresponding in general with Carus' curve, being the segment of a circle whose centre is the promontory of the sacrum. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Barnes' dystrophy | A rare type of muscular dystrophy, in which muscles are often hypertrophic and stronger than normal, but later become weak and atrophic. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Barnes' zone | The lower fourth of the pregnant uterus, attachment of the placenta to any part of which may cause dangerous haemorrhage. Synonym: cervical zone. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Barnes, Robert | <person> British obstetrician, 1817-1907. See: Barnes' curve, Barnes' zone. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Barnes, Stanley | <person> British physician, 1875-1955. See: Barnes' dystrophy. (05 Mar 2000) |