Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - bard

 I. noun  Etymology: Middle English, from Scottish Gaelic & Irish  Date: 15th century  1.  a. a tribal poet-singer skilled in composing and reciting verses on heroes and their deeds  b. a composer, singer, or declaimer of epic or heroic verse  2. poet  • ~ic adjective  II. noun  or ~e  Etymology: Middle French ~e, from Old Italian ~a, from Arabic dialect ~‘a packsaddle, saddle cover  Date: 15th century a piece of armor or ornament for a horse's neck, breast, or flank  III. transitive verb  Date: circa 1521  1. to furnish with ~s  2. to dress meat for cooking by covering with strips of fat