'John Barleycorn' definitions:

Definition of 'John Barleycorn'

From: WordNet
noun
An alcoholic beverage that is distilled rather than fermented [syn: liquor, spirits, booze, hard drink, hard liquor, John Barleycorn, strong drink]

Definition of 'John Barleycorn'

From: GCIDE
  • Barleycorn \Bar"ley*corn`\, n. [See Corn.]
  • 1. A grain or "corn" of barley. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. Formerly, a measure of length, equal to the average length of a grain of barley; the third part of an inch. [1913 Webster]
  • John Barleycorn, a humorous personification of barley as the source of malt liquor or whisky. [1913 Webster]