A long, solid piece of material like metal or wood, often used as a barrier or support. It can also mean a place where drinks are served, or the legal profession as a whole.
It comes from Old French “barre,” meaning rod, pole, or barrier. That word likely has a Celtic origin related to sticks or beams.
So many meanings of “bar” grow from the idea of a straight line that blocks or marks something—like the bar in a courtroom or the bar counter in a pub. Even the “bar exam” is metaphorically a barrier you have to cross to become a lawyer.
'Bar' refers both to drinking establishments and to the legal profession; both have histories of gender exclusion. Many bars were male‑dominated spaces that marginalized women and LGBTQ+ patrons, and 'the bar' as a legal institution long excluded women from practice or treated them as exceptions.
When using 'bar,' avoid assuming patrons, bartenders, or lawyers are male; use neutral terms and inclusive examples. Be mindful of how safety and access at bars can differ by gender and identity.
["pub","counter","legal profession"]
Women and gender‑diverse people have created inclusive bar spaces and fought for admission to the legal bar, reshaping both nightlife and the legal system despite facing discrimination.
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