bull barn.
/ˈbʊl bɑː/, U.S. /ˈbʊl ˌbɑr/ 1. North American. A wooden plank or metal bar used as a removable horizontal barrier across a doorway, esp. in a railway stock car. Now rare.
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society > travel > rail travel > rolling stock > [noun] > railway wagon or carriage > other parts
centre plate1717
bumper1838
running-board1858
bonnet1889
bull bar1891
possum belly1904
tailgate1909
1891 19th Cent. Apr. 651 The cars are closed by a sliding door on the outside, while on the inside there is ‘the bull-bar’—a thick, narrow plank of ash hung on a pivot on one side of the doorway, and secured by being swung up and run through a staple on the opposite side, thus affording a ready means of temporarily securing the contents of the car while the sliding door with its more elaborate adjustments is being made fast.
1899 Sci. Amer. 25 Mar. 181/3 An efficient fastener for stock-cars... The fastener consists particularly of an improved bolt and keeper for holding the hasp which confines the usual cattle-barrier or ‘bull-bar’, as it is technically termed.
1928 Pop. Sci. Monthly Apr. 141/1 It was close to midnight when big Tony Machek and his helpers drew the three-inch bull-bar from the clinker door of Number One and let it fall.
2. Originally Australian. A metal bar or grille fitted to the front of a motor vehicle to protect against damage in the event of a collision; = roo bar n. at roo n.2 Compounds 2.
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society > travel > means of travel > a conveyance > vehicle > parts and equipment of vehicles generally > [noun] > other parts
body bolt1810
safety chain1832
footplate1833
aisle1835
headlining1848
bumper1867
floor-plate1869
tension bar1879
suicide door1960
bull bar1967
roo bar1973
1967 J. Yeomans Scarce Australians 97 Most beasts had been killed by one blow from the bull bars (the heavy horizontal steel tubing mounted as cattle guards) on the front of a road train.
1983 Truckin' Life Nov. 15/2 At 11 in the morning, he was using the bullbar of his cabover Kenworth as a table, and tucking into a late breakfast of spaghetti and steak.
1995 Independent on Sunday 26 Mar. 5/2 As well as the physical results of accidents involving bull bars, there is also growing evidence of psychological effect on drivers, turning them into macho maniacs.
2001 4×4 Dec. 108/2 The stylish bull bar and body-hugging snorkel give the Freelander a seriously adventurous appearance.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, June 2013; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.1891