barb
- barb
-
barb1
/bahrb/, n.
1. a point or pointed part projecting backward from a main point, as of a fishhook or arrowhead. See illus. under
fishhook.
2. an obviously or openly unpleasant or carping remark.
3. Bot., Zool. a hooked or sharp bristle.
4. Ornith. one of the processes attached to the rachis of a feather. See illus. under
feather.
5. one of a breed of domestic pigeons, similar to the carriers or homers, having a short, broad bill.
6. any of numerous, small, Old World cyprinid fishes of the genera Barbus and Puntius, often kept in aquariums.
7. Usually,
barbs.
Vet. Pathol. a small protuberance under the tongue in horses and cattle, esp. when inflamed and swollen.
8. Also,
barbe. a linen covering for the throat and breast, formerly worn by women mourners and now only by some nuns.
9. Obs. a beard.
v.t.
10. to furnish with a barb or barbs.
[
1300-50; ME barbe < MF L barba BEARD or beardlike projection]
Syn. 1. spur, spike, prong, barbule; snag, prickle, spicule.
barb2
/bahrb/, n.
one of a breed of horses raised originally in Barbary.
[
1630-40; < F barbe, shortened form of It barbero Barbary steed, equiv. to Barber(ia) Barbary + -o masc. n. suffix]
/bahrb/, n. Slang.
barbiturate.
[by shortening]
* * *
▪ breed of horse
native
horse breed of the Barbary states of North Africa. It is related to, and probably an offshoot of, the
Arabian horse but is larger, with a lower placed tail, and has hair at the fetlock (above and behind the hoof). The coat colour is usually bay or brown. Like the Arabian, it is noted for speed and endurance. A variety known as the Spanish-Barb is bred in small numbers in the United States.
* * *
Universalium.
2010.
:
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
