barrotes

Barrotes is the plural form of barrote, a long, thick rod or bar, generally made of metal or wood. The word is used in several contexts to denote either a barrier, a structural element or a tool, depending on the circumstance.

In construction and architecture, barrotes can refer to reinforcing bars embedded in concrete or masonry to improve tensile strength, as well as to crossbars used to brace frames or secure gates and doors. In everyday language, the term is often associated with window grilles, fences or railings composed of vertical and horizontal bars that provide security while allowing visibility and airflow.

In addition to its structural and architectural senses, barrote can also denote a large cudgel or club used as a weapon in some regional varieties of Spanish. This occupational or colloquial sense highlights the material and heft commonly implied by the term.

Etymology-wise, barrote derives from barra with the augmentative suffix -ote, signaling a sizeable or robust bar. The word is related to other terms for slender or thick rods, such as barra, varilla, and reja, though with distinct usage in different contexts.

See also: barra, varilla, reja, refuerzo de hormigón.