I. ˈbär-bəl noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin * barbellus, diminutive of Latin barbus barbel, from barba beard — more at beard
Date: 14th century
: a European freshwater cyprinid fish ( Barbus barbus ) with four barbels on its upper jaw ; also : any of various closely related fishes
II. noun
Etymology: obsolete French, from Middle French, diminutive of barbe barb, beard
Date: 1601
: a slender tactile process on the lips of certain fishes (as catfishes)