barring vbl n
   1 The placing of a net in a river, estuary or bay to trap migrating fish.
   1867 Journ of Assembly Appendix, p. 719 [We should repeal] that part of the Herring Act which refers to what is termed 'barring,' so that every man may have free access to those shoals of wealth. 1898 Christmas Bells 15 These questions embraced the curing of fish, appointment of inspectors, use of bultows, cod nets, barring of brooks, cure of herring, taking of bait fishes, and the observance of existing laws. 1946 MACKAY (ed) 347 Captain Erskine of the Eclipse, on patrol duty off the Newfoundland coast, had reported to the Admiralty concerning the injurious effects produced by the practice of 'barring' for bait.
   2 Completing the knitting of a striped or 'barred' sweater.
   Q 71-7 Casting off a piece of knitting was referred to as barring off. A guernsey was a man's heavy turtle-neck sweater. A barred guernsey was a sweater which had been knit and cast off, or (that is) had been knit and finished.

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