john barleycorn

NOUN /dʒɑn_'bɑrli,kɔrn/
15 LETTERS · 3 SYLLABLES · STARTS WITH J

john barleycorn is a valid 15-letter word worth 31 points in Scrabble and 36 points in Words with Friends.

SCRABBLE WORDS WITH FRIENDS
J8O1H4N1B3A1R1L1E1Y4C3O1R1N1
8 + 1 + 4 + 1 + 0 + 3 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 4 + 3 + 1 + 1 + 1 =31 PTS
DOUBLE WORD → 62TRIPLE WORD → 93
MEANING

What does john barleycorn mean?