Barbican

views updated Jun 08 2018

Barbican. District in City of London where arts and conference centre is situated. Arts centre, opened in 1982 at a cost of £143 million, includes concert-hall, theatre and studios, lending and reference library, art gallery, sculpture court, and cinema. Guildhall School of Music and Drama housed on the site since 1977.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music MICHAEL KENNEDY and JOYCE BOURNE

Barbican

views updated May 29 2018

Barbican the complex of high-rise buildings around the Barbican Centre in the City of London. A barbican is the outer defence of a city or castle, especially a double tower above a gate or drawbridge; it is recorded from the 17th century as being retained as the name of a street in London. Recorded from Middle English, the word probably comes ultimately from Arabic.

The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable ELIZABETH KNOWLES

barbican

views updated May 18 2018

barbican outer fortification. XIII. — (O)F. barbacane, medL. barbacana, of unkn. orig.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

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Barbican Centre (London England)

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