barb

¹barb

noun \ˈbärb\

Definition of BARB

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

: ²barbel

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

Origin of BARB

Middle English barbe barb, beard, from Anglo-French, from Latin barba — more at beard

First Known Use: 14th century

Rhymes with BARB

arb, carb, garb

²barb

transitive verb

Definition of BARB

: to furnish with a barb

First Known Use of BARB

1759

³barb

noun

Definition of BARB

: any of a northern African breed of horses that are noted for speed and endurance

Origin of BARB

French barbe, from Italian barbero, from barbero of Barbary, from Barberia Barbary, coastal region in Africa

First Known Use: 1636

Other Mammals Terms

dormouse, dugong, gibbon, grimalkin, sable, stoat, ungulate, vole

⁴barb

noun

Definition of BARB

slang

: barbiturate

First Known Use of BARB

1967

barb

noun \ˈbärb\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of BARB

slang : barbiturate