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barbule

   Also found in: Medical, Wikipedia 0.05 sec.
bar·bule  (bärbyl)
n. Zoology
A small barb or pointed projection, especially one of the small projections fringing the edges of the barbs of feathers.

[Latin barbula, diminutive of barba, beard; see bhardh-- in Indo-European roots.]

barbule [ˈbɑːbjuːl]
n
1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Biology) a very small barb
2. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Zoology) Ornithol any of the minute hairs that project from a barb and in some feathers interlock by hooks and grooves, forming a flat vane
[from Latin barbula a little beard, from barba beard]

barbule  (bärbyl)
A small barb or pointed projection, especially one that fringes the edges of the barbs of feathers.


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? Mentioned in ? References in periodicals archive
 
Barbules, smaller fibers that branch from the barbs, can sport small hooklets that lock onto adjacent barbs or barbules.
Feathers have a central shaft with barbules radiating from it; down plumules grow in soft, little tufts all over a bird's skin, underneath its feathers.
Hoskin was taking umbrage at an article in Consumer Reports magazine in 1992 that charged that half the cans of tuna it tested contained "insect parts," "hairs," "fish scales," and "feather barbules.
 
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