barb

Definitions

• 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) (, , , and ), 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.