Barb to Bardling
Barb
(Barb) n. [F. barbe, fr. L. barba beard. See Beard, n.]
1. Beard, or that which resembles it, or grows in the place of it.
The barbel, so called by reason of his barbs, or wattles in his mouth.
Walton.
2. A muffler, worn by nuns and mourners. [Obs.]
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.]
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.
5. A bit for a horse. [Obs.] Spenser.
6. (Zoöl.) One of the side branches of a feather, which collectively constitute the vane. See Feather.
7. (Zoöl.) A southern name for the kingfishes of the eastern and southeastern coasts of the United
States; — also improperly called whiting.
8. (Bot.) A hair or bristle ending in a double hook.
Barb
(Barb), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Barbed ; p. pr. & vb. n. Barbing.]
1. To shave or dress the beard of. [Obs.]
2. To clip; to mow. [Obs.] Marston.
3. To furnish with barbs, or with that which will hold or hurt like barbs, as an arrow, fishhook, spear, etc.
But rattling storm of arrows barbed with fire.
Milton.
Barb
(Barb), n. [F. barbe, fr. Barbarie.]
1. The Barbary horse, a superior breed introduced from Barbary into Spain by the Moors.
2. (Zoöl.) A blackish or dun variety of the pigeon, originally brought from Barbary.
Barb
(Barb), n. [Corrupted fr. bard.] Armor for a horse. Same as 2d Bard, n., 1.
Barbacan
(Bar"ba*can) n. See Barbican.
Barbacanage
(Bar"ba*can*age) n. See Barbicanage.
Barbadian
(Bar*ba"di*an) a. Of or pertaining to Barbados. — n. A native of Barbados.
Barbados
(Bar*ba"dos or Bar*ba"does) n. A West Indian island, giving its name to a disease, to a
cherry, etc.
Barbados cherry (Bot.), a genus of trees of the West Indies (Malpighia) with an agreeably acid fruit
resembling a cherry. — Barbados leg (Med.), a species of elephantiasis incident to hot climates. —
Barbados nuts, the seeds of the Jatropha curcas, a plant growing in South America and elsewhere.
The seeds and their acrid oil are used in medicine as a purgative. See Physic nut.
