I. ˈbärb noun
Etymology: Middle English barbe barb, beard, from Anglo-French, from Latin barba — more at beard
Date: 14th century
1. : a medieval cloth headdress passing over or under the chin and covering the neck
2.
a. : a sharp projection extending backward (as from the point of an arrow or fishhook) and preventing easy extraction ; also : a sharp projection with its point similarly oblique to something else
b. : a biting or pointedly critical remark or comment
3. : barbel II
4. : any of the side branches of the shaft of a feather — see feather illustration
5. : a plant hair or bristle ending in a hook
• barb·less -ləs adjective
II. transitive verb
Date: 1759
: to furnish with a barb
III. noun
Etymology: French barbe, from Italian barbero, from barbero of Barbary, from Barberia Barbary, coastal region in Africa
Date: 1636
: any of a northern African breed of horses that are noted for speed and endurance
IV. noun
Date: 1967
slang : barbiturate