Meaning of barnraising | Babel Free

Definitions

The collective construction of a barn by members of a community, common in 18th- and 19th-century rural North America, and present-day Mennonite and Amish communities.

Examples

“It was founded on a deep knowledge of human nature; namely, upon the fact that people read most eagerly that which they already know, if it is about themselves or their neighbors, if it is a report of something they have been concerned in, a lecture they have heard, a fair, or festival, or wedding, or funeral, or barn-raising they have attended.”

““So Olaf is building a new barn?” Nils asked absently. “Biggest one in the county, and almost done. You'll likely be here for the barn-raising. He's going to have a supper and a dance as soon as everybody's done threshing. Says it keeps the voters in good humour. I tell him that's all nonsense; but Olaf has a head for politics.””

CEFR level