barb \barb\ baumrb, 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 muffler, worn by nuns and mourners. obs.
      1913 webster

   3. pl. 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.
      1913 webster

   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.
      1913 webster

   5. a bit for a horse. obs. --spenser.
      1913 webster

   6. zool. one of the side branches of a feather, which
      collectively constitute the vane. see feather.
      1913 webster

   7. zool. a southern name for the kingfishes of the eastern
      and southeastern coasts of the united states; -- also
      improperly called whiting.
      1913 webster

   8. bot. a hair or bristle ending in a double hook.
      1913 webster
see also:
beard barbel barble feather whiting 

barble \bar"ble\ baumr"b'l, n.
   see barbel.
   1913 webster
see also:
barbel