bar·bel 1
(bär′bəl)n.
One of the slender, whiskerlike tactile organs extending from the head of certain fishes, such as catfishes. Also called barb1.
[Obsolete French, from Old French, from Medieval Latin barbula, diminutive of Late Latin barbus, beard, from Latin barba; see bhardh-ā- in Indo-European roots.]
bar·bel 2
(bär′bəl)n.
Any of several freshwater cyprinid fishes of the genus Barbus of Eurasia and Africa, especially B. barbus, having four barbels on the upper jaw.
[Middle English, from Old French, from Medieval Latin *barbellus, diminutive of barbus, from Latin barba, beard; see barbel1.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
barbel
(ˈbɑːbəl)n
1. (Zoology) any of several slender tactile spines or bristles that hang from the jaws of certain fishes, such as the catfish and carp
2. (Animals) any of several European cyprinid fishes of the genus Barbus, esp B. barbus, that resemble the carp but have a longer body and pointed snout
[C14: from Old French, from Latin barbus, from barba beard]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
bar•bel
(ˈbɑr bəl)n.
1. a slender, external process on the head of certain fishes.
2. Also called barb. any European cyprinid fish of the genus Barbus, esp. B. barbus, having such processes.
[1400–1450; late Middle English barbell < Middle French barbel < Vulgar Latin *barbellus a weightlifting]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
bar·bel
(bär′bəl) A slender, whisker-like feeler extending from the head of certain fish, such as the catfish. It is used for touch and taste.
The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
| Noun | 1. |  barbel - slender tactile process on the jaws of a fishtentacle - any of various elongated tactile or prehensile flexible organs that occur on the head or near the mouth in many animals; used for feeling or grasping or locomotion |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations
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