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   barb

   /bɑːb/

   noun

   • 1. a sharp projection near the end of an arrow, fish hook, or similar object, which is angled away from the main point so as to make extraction difficult. Similar spikeprongpointprojectionspurthornneedlepricklespinequillbristletinetechnical:spiculespiculaspiculumspinule
   • ▪ a cluster of spikes on barbed wire.
   • ▪ a deliberately hurtful remark: "his barb hurt more than she cared to admit" Similar insultsneerjibecutcutting remarkshaftaffrontslap in the faceslightrebuffbrickbatslurscoffjeertauntabusedisparagementscoffingscornspitesarcasmgoadingridiculingderisionmockeryinformal:digput-down
   • 2. a fleshy filament at the mouth of some fish, such as barbel and catfish.
   • ▪ each of the fine hairlike filaments growing from the shaft of a feather, forming the vane.
   • 3. a freshwater fish with barbels around the mouth, popular in aquaria.

   Word Origin Middle English (denoting a piece of linen worn over or under the chin by nuns): from Old French barbe, from Latin barba ‘beard’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. barbless adjective

   Scrabble Points: 8

   • B

     3

   • A

     1

   • R

     1

   • B

     3

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