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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

2 entries under this word

Barb

Bärb, n.

noun

n. [Fr. barbe, f., Lat. barba, beard; Fr. barbe, m., a Barbary horse; L. Lat. cavallus de barba.] 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.

  1. The point that stands backward in an arrow, fish-hook, &c., to prevent it from being easily extracted. “Having two barbs or points.” Ascham.
  2. A bit for a horse. [Obs.] Spencer.
  3. (Bot.) A hair or filament forked at the apex, with both divisions of the fork hooked. Lindley.
  4. (Mil.) (a.) The defensive armor anciently worn by horses, made of leather, set with iron spikes.

(b.) The ornaments and housings of horses in peace or at tournaments. [Also spelt barbe or barde.]

  1. A kind of hood or muffler, covering the lower part of the face and shoulders. [Obs.] Chaucer.
  2. A horse of the Barbary stock, noted for speed; as, the fiery barb. Lansdown.
  3. A pigeon of a black or dun color, from Barbary.

Bärb, v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. 1. To shave or dress the beard of. [Obs.] It was the desire of the penitent to be so barbed. Shak.

  1. To mow. [Obs.] Marston.
  2. To furnish with barbs, as an arrow, fish-hook, spear, or other instrument. “With hook of barbed steel.” Thomson.
  3. To clothe, as a horse, with armor. “A brave courser barbed and trapped.” Holland.