Verb

(en verb)

To become hard or form a crust, like bark.

*{{quote-book, year=1828, author=David Macbeth Moir, title=The Life of Mansie Wauch, chapter=, edition= citation

, passage=The poor patient knew at once his master's tongue, and lifting up one of his eyes, the other being stiff and barkened down said in a melancholy voice, "Ah, master, do you think I'll get better?" }}

*1908 , Sir Walter Scott, Guy Mannering, or, The astrologer :

"The best way's to let the blood barken upon the cut — that saves plasters, hinney."

To tan or dye with bark.

*{{quote-book, year=1818, author=Sir Walter Scott, title=The Heart of Mid-Lothian, Vol. 1., Illustrated, chapter=, edition= citation

, passage="And it wad far better become ye, Mr. Saddletree," continued his helpmate, "since ye say ye hae skeel o' the law, to try if ye can do onything for Effie Deans, puir thing, that's lying up in the tolbooth yonder, cauld, and hungry, and comfortless--A servant lass of ours, Mr. Butler, and as innocent a lass, to my thinking, and as usefu' in the shop--When Mr. Saddletree gangs out,--and ye're aware he's seldom at hame when there's ony o' the plea-houses open,--poor Effie used to help me to tumble the bundles o' barkened leather up and down, and range out the gudes, and suit a' body's humours--And troth, she could aye please the customers wi' her answers, for she was aye civil, and a bonnier lass wasna in Auld Reekie. }} (Webster 1913) ----