For centuries barricades have been used by the masses as tools of social change, and, more recently, as tools of traffic management. For the sake of history, it is your responsibility to be able to identify the salient points of interest of the ubiquitous barricade. And so, as a public service, and in conjunction with Bob's Barricades, we present...
barricade (bar' i kad') n. [Fr. < It. barricata, pp. of barricare, to fortify ( < ? Fr. or Sp. barrica, barrel, prob. akin to BARREL: from use of casks as barriers)] 1. a barrier thrown up hastily for defense, as in street fighting 2. any barrier or obstruction --vt. -cad'ed, cad'ing 1. to shut in or keep out with a barricade 2. to put up barricades in; obstruct
Journey with us as we tour the barricades of the world.
Barricade #1
Barricade #1.5
Barricade #2
Barricade #3
Barricade #4
The Barricade Today
Although in the modern world barricades are still used in their traditional historic role during times of social unrest, their utility has also been expanded to include new realms of functionality. The most easily recognizable use thereof has been in the field of construction work and the traffic management that is frequently associated with constuction. The resulting variations in barricade design can lead to misconceptions as regards the taxonomy and classification of these later-day barricades, so pay close attention to what follows below.
Here we see the smaller versions of the greater North American orange and white barricade, frequently employed in places where space is at a premium. Despite their smaller size, these may be considered true "barricades."
The traffic-directing function of modern barricades is often taken over by barrels, which have historically (see the dictionary excerpt above) been part of the construction of barricades. These are examples of the two forms barrels may take: rounded on the right and square-cornered on the left. Because of their connections to traditional barricade construction, barrels may be considered close relatives to the barricade and tantamount to a barricade. In fact, many barrels in a heap may be considered a true barricade.
The clever viceroy butterfly's coloration mimics that of the monarch butterfly, which has, as a defense against potential avian predators, such a disagreeable taste that birds learn to not to eat it. The similar coloration affords the viceroy the same protection as the monarch. Just as the viceroy approximates the monarch's markings, so too are some barrels imitated. Here we see the common trash can masquerading as a true barrel. Exactly what protection the trash can is hoping to gain is unclear, but it is instructive to see mimicry used beyond the animal kingdom.
And last: A Barricade That Was Nearly Historic
Note: Bob's Barricades does not actually sponsor this site. However, all barricade company names (Bob's Barricades and ABC Barricades) are real names of real companies that supply traffic barricades and associated equipment to construction companies. The pictures were not doctored beyond the addition of labels. Sightings of the Bob's and ABC "brands" of barricades have not been made outside Florida; however, no grant money is available to make a thorough study, despite the promising report of BAB (Bay Area Barricades) brand barricades in northern California.