billiards n.pl. Form of billiards with holes in the table.

- code n. Machine-readable striped code on packaging etc.

- mitzvah n. - religious initiation ceremony of a jewish boy at 13.

- boy undergoing this. [hebrew, = son of the commandment]

- person n. Barmaid or barman.

- sinister n. = *bend sinister.

- —n. - long piece of rigid material, esp. Used to confine or obstruct.

- a something of similar form (bar of soap; bar of chocolate). B band of colour or light. C heating element of an electric fire. D metal strip below the clasp of a medal, awarded as an extra distinction. E heraldry narrow horizontal stripe across a shield.

- a counter for serving alcohol etc. On. B room or building containing it. C small shop or stall serving refreshments (snack bar). D counter for a special service (heel bar).

- a barrier. B restriction (colour bar; bar to promotion).

- prisoner's enclosure in a lawcourt.

- any of the sections into which a piece of music is divided by vertical lines.

- (the bar) law a barristers collectively. B profession of barrister. —v. (-rr-) 1 a fasten with a bar or bars. B (usu. Foll. By in, out) shut or keep in or out.

- obstruct, prevent.

- (usu. Foll. By from) prohibit, exclude.

- mark with stripes. —prep. Except. be called to the bar be admitted as barrister. Behind bars in prison. [french]

- n. Esp. Meteorol. Unit of pressure, 105 newtons per square metre, approx. One atmosphere. [greek baros weight]