barb

== English == === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /bɑː(ɹ)b/ Rhymes: -ɑː(ɹ)b === Etymology 1 === From Middle English barbe, from Middle French barbe, from Old French barbe (“beard, beard-like element”). Doublet of beard. ==== Noun ==== barb (plural barbs) 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. (figuratively) A hurtful or disparaging remark. A beard, or that which resembles it, or grows in the place of it. (ornithology) One of the many side branches of a feather, which collectively constitute the vane. (ichthyology) Any of various species of freshwater carp-like fish that have barbels and belong to the cyprinid family. (US) The sciaenid fish Menticirrhus americanus, found along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts of the United States. Synonyms: Carolina whiting, king whiting, southern kingcroaker, southern kingfish (botany) A hair or bristle ending in a double hook. (obsolete) A muffler, worn by nuns and mourners. 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. Synonyms: barbel, barble (obsolete) A bit for a horse. A plastic fastener, shaped roughly like a capital I (with serifs), used to attach socks etc. to their packaging. ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Translations ===== ==== Verb ==== barb (third-person singular simple present barbs, present participle barbing, simple past and past participle barbed) To furnish with barbs, or with that which will hold or hurt like barbs, as an arrow, fishhook, spear, etc. (Nigeria) To cut (hair). (obsolete) To shave or dress the beard of. (obsolete) To clip; to mow. ===== Derived terms ===== rebarb ===== Translations ===== === Etymology 2 === Clipping of Barbary. ==== Noun ==== barb (plural barbs) The Barbary horse, a superior breed introduced from Barbary into Spain by the Moors. A blackish or dun variety of pigeon, originally brought from Barbary. === Etymology 3 === Clipping of barbiturate. ==== Noun ==== barb (plural barbs) (informal, pharmacology) A barbiturate. Coordinate term: benzo === Etymology 4 === Corruption of bard. ==== Noun ==== barb (plural barbs) Armor for a horse. ===== Translations ===== ==== Verb ==== barb (third-person singular simple present barbs, present participle barbing, simple past and past participle barbed) To cover a horse in armor. === Further reading === barb on Wikipedia.Wikipedia barb (fish) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia Barb in the Encyclopædia Britannica (11th edition, 1911) === Anagrams === BBAR, Rabb, abbr, abbr. == Catalan == === Pronunciation === IPA(key): (Central, Balearic) [ˈbarp] IPA(key): (Valencia) [ˈbaɾp] === Etymology 1 === Inherited from Latin barbus. ==== Noun ==== barb m (plural barbs) barbel (freshwater fish of the genus Barbus) === Etymology 2 === From Latin varus, influenced by barba (“beard”). ==== Noun ==== barb m (plural barbs) blackhead (skin blemish) === Further reading === “barb”, in Diccionari de la llengua catalana [Dictionary of the Catalan Language] (in Catalan), second edition, Institute of Catalan Studies [Catalan: Institut d'Estudis Catalans], April 2007 == Manx == === Etymology === From Old Irish borb (“foolish, rude”). === Adjective === barb (plural barbey, comparative barbey) sharp, drastic cruel, rough ==== Derived terms ==== neuvarb === Noun === barb m (plural [please provide]) sharp point, javelin === Mutation ===