I. ˈbärb, ˈbȧb noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English barbe barb, beard, from Middle French, from Latin barba — more at beard
1.
a. : a sharp projection extending backwards (as from the point of an arrow, spear, or fishhook) preventing easy extraction from a wound ; also : any sharp projection with its point similarly oblique or crosswise to something else
b. : the point of a weapon or missile
c. : a biting or pointedly critical remark or comment
barbs of ridicule
attacks the … government and its leaders with personal barbs of astonishing virulence — Faubion Bowers
: painful impact or effect
the first violators felt the barb of Mulrain's enforcement tactics — G.S.Perry
2. : a part of a medieval linen or cotton headdress that is usually starched and sometimes pleated, that passes over or under the chin and covers the neck and sometimes the shoulders, and that is now worn only by nuns of certain orders
3. : a fleshy projection under the snout or around the mouth in fishes like sturgeons or cod ; especially : barbel
4. : one of the little projections of the mucous membrane that mark the opening of the submaxillary glands under the tongue in horses and cattle ; especially : such a projection when inflamed and swollen — usually used in plural
5. heraldry : one of the projecting leaves of the calyx of a rose
6. : one of the side branches of the shaft of a bird's feather
7. : one of the minute branches on fur fiber
8. botany : a hair or bristle ending in a hook, often a double one
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English & Middle French; Middle English barben to clip wool, from Middle French barber to shave, clip, from barbe beard, barb
transitive verb
1.
a. obsolete : to shave or trim the beard of
b. : clip , mow
2.
[ barb (I) ]
: to furnish (as an arrow or fishhook) with a barb
barb arrows with points of fish bone
intransitive verb
obsolete : to shave or trim the beard
III. noun
( -s )
Etymology: by alteration
obsolete : bard II 1
IV. noun
( -s )
Etymology: French barbe, from Italian barbero, from barbero of Barbary, from Barberia Barbary, coastal region of northern Africa
1.
a. : a horse of the stock native to Barbary
b. usually capitalized : a horse of a breed related to the Arabs that is noted for speed and endurance and was introduced into Spain by the Moors
2. : a pigeon of a domestic breed related to the carriers that has a short broad beak, much bare skin about the eyes, and the skin about the nostrils swollen
3. : a black kelpie
V. noun
( -s )
Etymology: probably from barb (I)
1. : any of several whitings of the eastern and southeastern coasts of the United States
2. : any of several brightly colored tropical fishes (genus Barbus ) kept in aquariums
VI. noun
( -s )
Etymology: by shortening
slang : barbarian 2