Barbara, Barber, Barbarian, Lombardy and Lumber

• PostEagle
• August 18, 2019
• Word Etymology
• Barbara, Barbarian, Barber
• 0 Comments

The words for today are BARBARA, BARBER, BARBARIAN, LOMBARDY, and LUMBER.

The Romans called the tribes living on the other side of the Alps – BARBARIANS – because they had heavy beards. The Latin word – BARBA – means BEARD. Later the word also meant – UNCOUTH, FOREIGNER. The barbarians, of course, were not so educated nor domesticated as the Romans and that is why the meaning – UNCOUTH – was applied.

BARBARA – was – A FEMALE foreigner

BARBER – was – ONE WHO SHAVED BEARDS.

A group of barbarians who migrated into Italy had very long beards and they were called – LONGA BARBA or LONGO BARBI or LONGO BARDI. They settled in a region which quickly took on this name and now is – LOMBARDY. These barbarians were woodsmen and fashioned many items out of wood. They sold wood products which were referred to as LOMBARDI. This gradually changed to the word – LUMBER.