First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
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
2barb
verb
Definition of BARB
transitive verb
: 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
4barb
noun
BARB Defined for Kids
barb
noun \ˈbärb\
Definition of BARB for Kids
: a sharp point that sticks out and backward (as from the tip of an arrow or fishhook)
— barbed \ˈbärbd\ adjective
Medical Dictionary
barb
noun \ˈbärb\
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