BARB

barb

(noun) one of the parallel filaments projecting from the main shaft of a feather

barb

(noun) a subsidiary point facing opposite from the main point that makes an arrowhead or spear hard to remove

barb

(noun) the pointed part of barbed wire

shot, shaft, slam, dig, barb, jibe, gibe

(noun) an aggressive remark directed at a person like a missile and intended to have a telling effect; “his parting shot was ‘drop dead’”; “she threw shafts of sarcasm”; “she takes a dig at me every chance she gets”

barb

(verb) provide with barbs; “barbed wire”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Proper noun

Barb

A diminutive of the female given name Barbara.

A surname.

Noun

Barb (plural Barbz)

(slang) A fan of the American singer Nicki Minaj, especially a female one.

Anagrams

• BBAR, Rabb, abbr, abbr.

Etymology 1

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.

Armor for a horse, corrupted from bard.

(obsolete) A horse.

(ornithology) One of the 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) Menticirrhus americanus (Carolina whiting, king whiting, southern kingcroaker, and southern kingfish), found along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts of the United States.

(botany) A hair or bristle ending in a double hook.

A blackish or dun variety of the pigeon, originally brought from Barbary.

(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. [Written also barbel and 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.

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.

To cover a horse in armor, corrupted from bard.

(Nigeria) To cut (hair).

(obsolete) To shave or dress the beard of.

(obsolete) To clip; to mow.

Etymology 2

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.

Anagrams

• BBAR, Rabb, abbr, abbr.

Source: Wiktionary


Barb, n. Etym: [F. barbe, fr. L. barba beard. See Beard, n.]

1. Beard, or that which resembles it, or grows in the place of it. The barbel, so called by reason of his barbs, or wattles in his mouth. Walton.

2. A muffler, worn by nuns and mourners. [Obs.]

3. pl.

Definition: 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. [Written also barbel and barble.]

4. 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. "Having two barbs or points." Ascham.

5. A bit for a horse. [Obs.] Spenser.

6. (Zoöl.)

Definition: One of the side branches of a feather, which collectively constitute the vane. See Feather.

7. (Zoöl.)

Definition: A southern name for the kingfishes of the eastern and southeastern coasts of the United States; -- also improperly called whiting.

8. (Bot.)

Definition: A hair or bristle ending in a double hook.

Barb, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Barbed (p. pr. & vb. n. Barbing.]

1. To shave or dress the beard of. [Obs.]

2. To clip; to mow. [Obs.] Marston.

3. To furnish with barbs, or with that which will hold or hurt like barbs, as an arrow, fishhook, spear, etc. But rattling storm of arrows barbed with fire. Milton.

Barb, n. Etym: [F. barbe, fr. Barbarie.]

1. The Barbary horse, a superior breed introduces from Barbary into Spain by the Moors.

2. (Zoöl.)

Definition: A blackish or dun variety of the pigeon, originally brought from Barbary.

Barb, n. Etym: [Corrupted fr. bard.]

Definition: Armor for a horse. Same as 2d Bard, n., 1.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

23 November 2024

THEORETICAL

(adjective) concerned primarily with theories or hypotheses rather than practical considerations; “theoretical science”


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Coffee Trivia

Coffee dates back to the 9th century. Goat herders in Ethiopia noticed their goats seem to be “dancing” after eating berries from a particular shrub. They reported it to the local monastery, and a monk made a drink out of it. The monk found out he felt energized and kept him awake at night. That’s how the first coffee drink was born.

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