barb
- barb
-
I. noun
Etymology: Middle English barbe barb, beard, from Anglo-French, from Latin barba — more at beard
Date: 14th century
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. barbel II
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
• barbless adjective
II. transitive verb
Date: 1759
to furnish with a barb
III. noun
Etymology: French barbe, from Italian barbero, from barbero of Barbary, from Barberia Barbary, coastal region in Africa
Date: 1636
any of a northern African breed of horses that are noted for speed and endurance
IV. noun
Date: 1967
slang barbiturate
New Collegiate Dictionary.
2001.
:
Look at other dictionaries:
Barb — may refer to: * A backward facing point on a fish hook or similar implement, rendering extraction from the victim s flesh more difficult * Barb (feather), the branches issuing from the rachis of feathers * Barb (fish), several species of… … Wikipedia
barb — barb·al·o·in; barb; barb·ing; barb·less; barb·wire; rhu·barb; … English syllables
barb — barb1 [bärb] n. [ME & OFr barbe < L barba,BEARD] 1. a thin, somewhat beardlike growth near the mouth of certain animals, as the barbel of a fish 2. a piece of white linen for covering the throat and sometimes the chin, worn by certain nuns 3.… … English World dictionary
Barb — (b[aum]rb), n. [F. barbe, fr. L. barba beard. See {Beard}, n.] 1. Beard, or that which resembles it, or grows in the place of it. [1913 Webster] The barbel, so called by reason of his barbs, or wattles in his mouth. Walton. [1913 Webster] 2. A… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Barb — Barb, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Barbed} (b[aum]rbd); p. pr. & vb. n. {Barbing}.] 1. To shave or dress the beard of. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] 2. To clip; to mow. [Obs.] Marston. [1913 Webster] 3. To furnish with barbs, or with that which will hold or hurt … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Barb — Barb, n. [F. barbe, fr. Barbarie.] 1. The Barbary horse, a superior breed introduced from Barbary into Spain by the Moors. [1913 Webster] 2. (Zo[ o]l.) A blackish or dun variety of the pigeon, originally brought from Barbary. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Barb — Barb, n. [Corrupted fr. bard.] Armor for a horse. Same as 2d {Bard}, n., 1. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
barb — [ba:b US ba:rb] n [Date: 1300 1400; : Old French; Origin: barbe barb, beard , from Latin barba] 1.) the sharp curved point of a hook, ↑arrow etc that prevents it from being easily pulled out 2.) a remark that is clever and amusing, but also cruel … Dictionary of contemporary English
barb — [ barb ] noun count 1. ) a short curved point on something such as a fish hook that makes it difficult to remove 2. ) a remark or criticism that is unkind, although it may seem clever or funny => BARBED … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
barb — [n1] point arrow, bristle, dart, prickle, prong, quill, shaft, spike, spur, thistle, thorn; concepts 434,836 barb [n2] pointed comment affront, criticism, cut, dig, gibe, insult, rebuff, sarcasm, scoff, sneer; concepts 52,54 Ant. kindness, praise … New thesaurus
barb- — Raíz de sonido expresivo o imitativo: ‘barbotar, barbullar’. ⇒ B...b … Enciclopedia Universal
