bark

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
bark1

▶noun the sharp explosive cry of a dog, fox, or seal. ▶verb

• 1 (of a dog, fox, or seal) give a bark.

• 2 utter (a command or question) abruptly or aggressively.

  ■ US call out in order to sell or advertise something.

– phrases
one's bark is worse than one's bite one is not as ferocious as one seems.
be barking up the wrong tree informal be pursuing a mistaken line of thought.

– origin OE beorc (n.), beorcan (v.), of Gmc origin.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
bark2

▶noun the tough protective outer sheath of the trunk, branches, and twigs of a tree or woody shrub. ▶verb

• 1 strip the bark from.

• 2 scrape the skin off (one's shin) by accidentally hitting it.

• 3 tan or dye (leather or other materials) using the tannins found in bark.

– derivatives
-barked adjective.

– origin ME: from ON bǫrkr; perh. rel. to birch.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
bark3

▶noun archaic or literary a ship or boat.

– origin ME: var. of barque.