n. & v.
n. 1 a secondary backward-facing projection from an arrow, fish-hook, etc., angled to make extraction difficult. 2 a deliberately hurtful remark. 3 a beardlike filament at the mouth of some fish, e.g. barbel and catfish. 4 any one of the fine hairlike filaments growing from the shaft of a feather, forming the vane.
v.tr. 1 provide (an arrow, a fish-hook, etc.) with a barb or barbs. 2 (as barbed adj.) (of a remark etc.) deliberately hurtful. barbed wire wire bearing sharp pointed spikes close together and used in fencing, or in warfare as an obstruction.
[ ME f. OF barbe f. L barba beard ]