barley-twist

adjective

bar·​ley-twist

: having a twisted form : twisted in a way that resembles a twisted stick of barley sugar

a building with barley-twist columns

… a whitewashed side table with barley-twist legs …

—Liz Seymour, New York Times, 21 Oct. 1999

… barley-twist gothic adornments enliven facades, and corinthian columns crumble from walls.

—Nick Redman, Sunday Times (London), 12 Aug. 2007

also : characterized by twisted design elements

antique barley-twist furniture

Word History

First Known Use

1914, in the meaning defined above

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