Baccer Barn

A "baccer barn" is a barn used to cure and store tobacco. In Appalachian and Southern farm life, families cut and hung tobacco stalks inside these tall, airy barns to dry before sale.

#SouthernWords #Appalachia #Southern #FarmTalk

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I looked inside the 'baccer barn' plenty growin' up (at Papaw and Granny's), but never went in. Those are few and far between now.

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I looked inside the 'baccer barn' plenty growin' up (at Papaw and Granny's), but never went in. Those are few and far between now.

Pronunciation

[BAK-er barn]

Meaning & Usage

- A barn for curing tobacco (noun)

Mae:

Where’s the menfolk at?

Earl:

Still out in the baccer barn, checkin’ the sticks.

- A symbol of Appalachian & Southern farm life (noun)

Mae:

You ever work a baccer barn?

Earl:

About every summer growin’ up.

variations: tobacco barn, bacco barn, baccy barn, curin’ barn, hangin’ barn, dryin’ barn

★ Baccer barns were tall with slatted walls or vents, letting air move through. Inside, long sticks of tobacco stalks were hung to cure for weeks. ★

Origin and Etymology

Tobacco barns date back to early Appalachian and Southern farming, where tobacco was a cash crop. Families built specialized barns just for curing "baccer."

Usage Notes

Common sight in Appalachian and Southern farm country. Many stand empty today as tobacco farming declined, but older folks remember the hard work of curing season.

Say It Like a Southerner

Said plain: "back-er barn." The middle "o" in tobacco drops out, same as in "baccer."

Kin Topics

Common Questions

What’s the difference between a baccer barn and a regular barn?

Baccer barns were built taller, with vents or gaps for air, and racks for hanging tobacco sticks.

Do people still use them?

Rarely. Most sit unused now, though some are preserved as farm landmarks.

Why so many spelling versions?

"Baccer" comes from the way "tobacco" is pronounced in Appalachia and the South.

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, September 2). Baccer Barn. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/baccer-barn
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Baccer Barn." HillbillySlang.com, 2 Sept. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/baccer-barn.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Baccer Barn." HillbillySlang.com. September 2, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/baccer-barn.

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