\Bar"on\, n. [OE. baron, barun, OF. baron, accus. of ber,
F. baron, prob. fr. OHG. baro (not found) bearer, akin to E.
bear to support; cf. O. Frisian bere, LL. baro, It. barone,
Sp. varon. From the meaning bearer (of burdens) seem to have
come the senses strong man, man (in distinction from woman),
which is the oldest meaning in French, and lastly, nobleman.
Cf. L. baro, simpleton. See {Bear} to support.]
1. A title or degree of nobility; originally, the possessor
   of a fief, who had feudal tenants under him; in modern
   times, in France and Germany, a nobleman next in rank
   below a count; in England, a nobleman of the lowest grade
   in the House of Lords, being next below a viscount.
Note: ``The tenants in chief from the Crown, who held lands
      of the annual value of four hundred pounds, were styled
      Barons; and it is to them, and not to the members of
      the lowest grade of the nobility (to whom the title at
      the present time belongs), that reference is made when
      we read of the Barons of the early days of England's
      history . . . . Barons are addressed as 'My Lord,' and
      are styled 'Right Honorable.' All their sons and
      daughters 'Honorable.''' --Cussans.
2. (Old Law) A husband; as, baron and feme, husband and wife.
   [R.] --Cowell.
{Baron of beef}, two sirloins not cut asunder at the
   backbone.
{Barons of the Cinque Ports}, formerly members of the House
   of Commons, elected by the seven Cinque Ports, two for
   each port.
{Baron of the exchequer}, the judges of the Court of
   Exchequer, one of the three ancient courts of England, now
   abolished.