Barrel \Bar"rel\ (b[a^]r"r[e^]l), n.[OE. barel, F. baril, prob.
   fr. barre bar. Cf. Barricade.]
   1. A round vessel or cask, of greater length than breadth,
      and bulging in the middle, made of staves bound with
      hoops, and having flat ends or heads; as, a cracker
      barrel. Sometimes applied to a similar cylindrical
      container made of metal, usually called a drum.
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   2. The quantity which constitutes a full barrel. This varies
      for different articles and also in different places for
      the same article, being regulated by custom or by law. A
      barrel of wine is 311/2 gallons; a barrel of flour is 196
      pounds.
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   3. A solid drum, or a hollow cylinder or case; as, the barrel
      of a windlass; the barrel of a watch, within which the
      spring is coiled.
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   4. A metallic tube, as of a gun, from which a projectile is
      discharged. --Knight.
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   5. A jar. [Obs.] --1 Kings xvii. 12.
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   6. (Zool.) The hollow basal part of a feather.
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   Barrel bulk (Com.), a measure equal to five cubic feet,
      used in estimating capacity, as of a vessel for freight.
      

   Barrel drain (Arch.), a drain in the form of a cylindrical
      tube.

   Barrel of a boiler, the cylindrical part of a boiler,
      containing the flues.

   Barrel of the ear (Anat.), the tympanum, or tympanic
      cavity.

   Barrel organ, an instrument for producing music by the
      action of a revolving cylinder.

   Barrel vault. See under Vault.
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Bulk \Bulk\ (b[u^]lk), n. [OE. bulke, bolke, heap; cf. Dan. bulk
   lump, clod, OSw. bolk crowd, mass, Icel. b?lkast to be bulky.
   Cf. Boll, n., Bile a boil, Bulge, n.]
   1. Magnitude of material substance; dimensions; mass; size;
      as, an ox or ship of great bulk.
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            Against these forces there were prepared near one
            hundred ships; not so great of bulk indeed, but of a
            more nimble motion, and more serviceable. --Bacon.
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   2. The main mass or body; the largest or principal portion;
      the majority; as, the bulk of a debt.
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            The bulk of the people must labor, Burke told them,
            "to obtain what by labor can be obtained." --J.
                                                  Morley.
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   3. (Naut.) The cargo of a vessel when stowed.
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   4. The body. [Obs.] --Shak.
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            My liver leaped within my bulk.       --Turbervile.
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   Barrel bulk. See under Barrel.

   To break bulk (Naut.), to begin to unload or more the
      cargo.

   In bulk, in a mass; loose; not inclosed in separate
      packages or divided into separate parts; in such shape
      that any desired quantity may be taken or sold.

   Laden in bulk, Stowed in bulk, having the cargo loose in
      the hold or not inclosed in boxes, bales, or casks.

   Sale by bulk, a sale of goods as they are, without weight
      or measure.
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   Syn: Size; magnitude; dimension; volume; bigness; largeness;
        massiveness.
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