Barracks
/ˈbær.əks/noun
A building or group of buildings used to house soldiers.
Did you know?The word entered English through French and ultimately goes back to a Spanish term for soldier housing, showing how military life itself can reshape everyday language.
Etymological Timeline
Late 16th Century
French
baraques
“soldiers’ huts or temporary lodgings”
16th Century
Spanish
barraca
“a hut, shed, or rough shelter”
Possibly Celtic / uncertain
?
barra
“a pole, barrier, or rough wooden structure”
17th Century
English
barracks
“lodgings for soldiers”
Modern English
English
barracks
“military housing or quarters”