Green’s Dictionary of Slang

barnacle n.1

[all f. 14C SE barnacle, a type of pincer used to restrain recalcitrant horses; thus an instrument of torture for humans, which in turn must come from the shellfish that clings to ships’ bottoms. The image in all cases is of clinging tight]
(UK Und.)

1. that member of a team of swindlers who poses as an independent individual, ostensibly having no knowledge of their new companions but keenly ready to befriend the victim, often pretending to be drunk.

1591
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1608
[UK]Greene Notable Discovery of Coosnage in Grosart (1881–3) X 25: So in comes the Barnacle, and taking the cup, drinkes to the Connie, and then faith, what, at cards gentlemen?
S. Rowlands Greenes ghost haunting conie-catchers n.p.: Conicatching: whereunto, as the Author saith, is necessarilie required thrée parties: The setter, the Verser, and the Barnacle.
[UK]Dekker Belman of London F2: He that comes in, and before counterfeited the drunken Barnard is now sober and called the Barnacle.

2. one who speaks through their nose.

Percivall Sp. Dict. n.p.: Gango a barnacle, one that speaketh through the nose [F&H].

3. one who pays too close an attendance, a hanger-on.

[UK]M.E. Braddon Trail of the Serpent 4: Slopperton found him a species of barnacle rather difficult to shake off.

4. a decoy swindler, a swindler’s assistant.

1607
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1867
[UK]Dekker & Webster Northward Hoe III i: Ile cashiere all my young barnicles.
[UK](con. 1600s) M. Lemon Leyton Hall I 233: The man that stood beside thee is old Crookfinger, the most notorious setter, barnacle and foist in the city.

5. (US) one who persists at something.

1896
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1960
[US]Arizona Republican (Phoenix, AZ) 9 Jan. 2/2: Barnacles are the cirse of any community.
[US]Mower Co. Transcript (Lansing, MN) 20 Jan. 1/1: Think of the gall of these same barnacles kickin’ because last week the authorities ordered ’em to put in seven hours and a half.
[US]G.H. Mullin Adventures of a Scholar Tramp 131: What a great old train-barnacle he was, that Frisco!
[US] ‘Jargon of the Und.’ in DN V 442: Chair barnacle, A bum who sits in railway depot waiting rooms, flophouse halls, and wherever else he may be tolerated.
[US]‘Dean Stiff’ Milk and Honey Route 198: Barnacle — A fellow who sticks to one job a year or more.
[US](con. 1950-1960) R.A. Freeman Dict. Inmate Sl. (Walla Walla, WA) 6: Barnacle – a yokel who works one job for a year or more.

6. (US) a former merchant sailor, still ‘stuck to’ his old waterfront haunts .

H.B. Darrach Jr. ‘Sticktown Nocturne’ in Baltimore Sun (MD) 12 Aug. A-1/1: A barnacle is a derelict of the old fleet; it is a point of honor among seamen who have any ‘line’ never to refuse a barnacle a belt.

7. (US Und.) a woman.

[US]Goldin et al. DAUL 132/1: That barnacle (woman) who gave me my bit (prison sentence) on the skin-heist (for rape) was a madam in a nautch-joint (brothel) in Elcart.