Meaning and Origin
What does the name Barb mean? Keep reading to find the user submitted meanings, dictionary definitions, and more.
Origin and Meaning of Barb
User Submitted Origins
English
67%
French
33%
International Interest
Also see international interest
Webster's Unabridged Dictionary
noun Barb
Senses
- 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.]
- A muffler, worn by nuns and mourners.(Obs)
- 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. Alt. spell.: barbel barble
- 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 barbsor points." [Ascham.]
- A bit for a horse.(Obs)
- [Zoöl] One of the side branches of a feather, which collectively constitute the vane. See Feather.
- [Zoöl] A southern name for the kingfishes of the eastern and southeastern coasts of the United States; -- also improperly called whiting.
- [Bot] A hair or bristle ending in a double hook.
Etymology: F. barbe, fr. L. barba beard. See Beard (n.)
verb Barb
Senses
- To shave or dress the beard of.(Obs)
- To clip; to mow.(Obs)
- 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.]
noun Barb
Senses
- The Barbary horse, a superior breed introduced from Barbary into Spain by the Moors.
- [Zoöl] A blackish or dun variety of the pigeon, originally brought from Barbary.
Etymology: F. barbe, fr. Barbarie
noun Barb
Armor for a horse. Same as 2d Bard (n.), 1.
Etymology: Corrupted fr. bard
Other Dictionary Sources
- One of the parallel filaments projecting from the main shaft of a feather
- A subsidiary point facing opposite from the main point that makes an arrowhead or spear hard to remove
- The pointed part of barbed wire
- An aggressive remark directed at a person like a missile and intended to have a telling effect
- Provide with barbs ("barbed wire")
Wiktionary
- A diminutive of the female given name Barbara.
- A surname.
- (slang) A fan of the American singer Nicki Minaj, especially a female one.