barn stormers
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
Theatrical performers who travel the country and act in barns, selecting short and tragic pieces to suit the rustic taste.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “barn stormers” mean?
Theatrical performers who travel the country and act in barns, selecting short and tragic pieces to suit the rustic taste.
Is “barn stormers” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.