barb

Noun

1. The point that stands backward in an arrow, fishhook, etc., to prevent it from being easily extracted. Hence: Anything which stands out with a sharp point obliquely or crosswise to something else.
2. (figuratively) A hurtful or disparaging remark.
3. A beard, or that which resembles it, or grows in the place of it.
4. One of the many side branches of a feather, which collectively constitute the vane.
5. Any of various species of freshwater carp-like fish that have barbels and belong to the cyprinid family.
6. (US) The sciaenid fish Menticirrhus americanus, found along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts of the United States.
7. A hair or bristle ending in a double hook.
8. (obsolete) A muffler, worn by nuns and mourners.
9. Paps, or little projections, of the mucous membrane, which mark the opening of the submaxillary glands under the tongue in horses and cattle. The name is mostly applied when the barbs are inflamed and swollen.
10. (obsolete) A bit for a horse.
11. A plastic fastener, shaped roughly like a capital I (with serifs), used to attach socks etc. to their packaging.

Verb

1. To furnish with barbs, or with that which will hold or hurt like barbs, as an arrow, fishhook, spear, etc.
2. (Nigeria) To cut (hair).
3. (obsolete) To shave or dress the beard of.
4. (obsolete) To clip; to mow.

Verb

To cover a horse in armor.

Pronounced as (IPA)

/bɑː(ɹ)b/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: barbe

In summary

PIE word
*bʰardʰéh₂
From Middle English barbe, from Middle French barbe, from Old French barbe (“beard, beard-like element”). Doublet of beard.

Synonyms

thorn

spike

hook

🪝

spine

shot

prickle

barbel

shaft

arrowhead

prong

jibe

tine

slam

gibe

tooth

🦷

point

prick

dig

score

sharp

spit

spur

sticker

sting

strand

tab

tip

tongue

👅

palp

acantha

arrow

aculeus

barbiturate

cleat

feather

🪶

fin

fix

fluke

gaff

gorse

lancet

needle

palpus

peak

pike

piton

prod

quill

ramus