noun

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. a sharp point curving or projecting in an opposite direction from the main point of a fishhook, arrow, etc.
4. a cutting remark
5. one of the hairlike branches on the shaft of a feather
6. Bot. a hooked hair or bristle

Etymology: ME & OFr barbe < L barba, beard

transitive verb

noun

1. a horse of a breed native to N Africa, noted for speed and strength
2. a breed of pigeon similar to the carrier pigeon

Etymology: Fr barbe, Barbary horse < It barbero < Ar Barbar, Berber