barons

noun

1. a member of the lowest grade of nobility.
2. (in Britain)
   1. a feudal vassal holding his lands under a direct grant from the king.
   2. a direct descendant of such a vassal or his equal in the nobility.
   3. a member of the House of Lords.
3. an important financier or industrialist, especially one with great power in a particular area: an oil baron.
4. a cut of mutton or lamb comprising the two loins, or saddle, and the hind legs.

noun

1. a member of a specific rank of nobility, esp the lowest rank in the British Isles
2. (in Europe from the Middle Ages) originally any tenant-in-chief of a king or other overlord, who held land from his superior by honourable service; a land-holding nobleman
3. a powerful businessman or financiera press baron
4. English law (formerly) the title held by judges of the Court of Exchequer
5. short for baron of beef

n.

c.1200, from Old French baron (nominative ber) “baron, nobleman, military leader, warrior, virtuous man, lord, husband,” probably from or related to Late Latin baro “man,” of uncertain origin, perhaps from Frankish *baro “freeman, man;” merged in England with cognate Old English beorn “nobleman.”