[bar.bel] n [ME, fr. MF, fr. (assumed) VL barbellus, dim. of L barbus barbel, fr. barba beard--more at beard] (14c): a European freshwater cyprinid fish (Barbus barbus) with four barbels on its upper jaw; also: any of various closely related fishes
[2]barbel n [obs. F, fr. MF, dim. of barbe barb, beard] (1601): a slender tactile process on the lips of certain fishes (as catfishes)