Barter, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Bartered (p. pr. & vb. n. Bartering.]
Etymology: [OE. bartren, OF. barater, bareter, to cheat, exchange, perh. fr. Gr. to do, deal (well or ill), use practices or tricks, or perh. fr. Celtic; cf. Ir. brath treachery, W. brad. Cf. Barrator.]
To traffic or trade, by exchanging one commodity for another, in distinction from a sale and purchase, in which money is paid for the commodities transferred; to truck.
2 other Webster entries under this spelling
Barter, v. t.
To trade or exchange in the way of barter; to exchange (frequently for an unworthy consideration); to traffic; to truck; -- sometimes followed by away; as, to barter away goods or honor.
Barter, n.
1. The act or practice of trafficking by exchange of commodities; an exchange of goods. The spirit of huckstering and barter. Burke.
2. The thing given in exchange.
Syn. -- Exchange; dealing; traffic; trade; truck.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for barter; he lists it under business, sale.
Where he writes about it:
Barter is the direct exchange of commodities; business, trade, and commerce are chiefly transacted by means of money, bills of exchange, etc. — from business
Barter is the exchange of one commodity for another, the word being used generally with reference to portable commodities. — from sale
Trade in the broad sense may apply to vast businesses (as the book-trade), but as denoting a single transaction is used chiefly in regard to things of moderate value, when it becomes nearly synonymous with barter. — from sale