barnburner

barnburner
/bahrn"berr'neuhr/, n.
1. Informal. something that is highly exciting, impressive, etc.: The All Stars game was a real barnburner.
2. Chiefly Pennsylvania. a wooden friction match.
3. (cap.) a member of the progressive faction in the Democratic party in New York State 1845-52. Cf. Hunker.
[1835-45, Amer.; BARN1 + BURNER; (def. 3) so called with reference to burning down a barn to get rid of rats]

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Universalium. 2010.

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