Baro

A man, whether slave or free. Si quis homicidium perpetraverit in barone libra seu servo, if any one shall have perpetrated a murder upon any man, slave or free. A freeman or freedman; a strong man; a hired soldier; a vassal; a feudal client. Those who held of the king immediately were called "barons of the king." A man of dignity and rank; a knight., A magnate in the church. A judge in the exchequer (baro scaccarii). The first-born child. A husband. The word is said by Spelman to have been used more frequently in its latter sense. It is quite easy to trace the history of baro, from meaning simply "man," to its various derived significations. Denoting a man, one who possessed the manly qualities of courage and strength would be desirable as a soldier, or might misuse them as a robber. One who possessed them in an eminent degree would be "the" man; and hence baro, in its sense of a title of dignity or honor, particularly applicable in a warlike age to the best soldier. See, generally, Bac. Abr.; Comyn, Dig.; Spelman.