Definition of "barb"
- noun
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.
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.
One of the side branches of a feather, which collectively constitute the vane.
Several species of freshwater fish of the cyprinid family.
A southern name for the kingfishes of the eastern and southeastern coasts of the United States; -- also improperly called whiting.
A hair or bristle ending in a double hook.
A blackish or dun variety of the pigeon, originally brought from Barbary.
A muffler, worn by nuns and mourners.
A bit for a horse.
A plastic fastener, shaped roughly like a capital I (with serifs), used to attach socks etc. to their packaging.
The Barbary horse, a superior breed introduces from Barbary into Spain by the Moors.
- verb
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.
To shave or dress the beard of.
To clip; to mow.
- Sources