barb
1 of 4noun (1)
ˈbärb 
1
: a medieval cloth headdress passing over or under the chin and covering the neck
2
a
: a sharp projection extending backward (as from the point of an arrow or fishhook) and preventing easy extraction
also : a sharp projection with its point similarly oblique to something else
b
: a biting or pointedly critical remark or comment
3
: barbel entry 2
4
: any of the side branches of the shaft of a feather see feather illustration
5
: a plant hair or bristle ending in a hook
barbless
ˈbärb-ləs
adjective barb
2 of 4verb
barbed; barbing; barbs
transitive verb
: to furnish with a barb
barb
3 of 4noun (2)
: any of a northern African breed of horses that are noted for speed and endurance
barb
4 of 4noun (3)
slang
: barbiturate
Synonyms
Noun (1)
- affront
- brickbat
- cut
- dart
- dig
- dis [slang]
- diss
- epithet
- gird
- indignity
- insult
- name
- offense
- offence
- outrage
- personality
- poke
- put-down
- sarcasm
- slap
- slight
- slur
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
Middle English barbe barb, beard, from Anglo-French, from Latin barba — more at beard
Noun (2)
French barbe, from Italian barbero, from barbero of Barbary, from Barberia Barbary, coastal region in Africa
First Known Use
Noun (1)
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1759, in the meaning defined above
Noun (2)
circa 1610, in the meaning defined above
Noun (3)
1955, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
barb
noun
ˈbärb
: a sharp point that sticks out and backward (as from the tip of an arrow or fishhook)
Medical Definition
barb
noun
ˈbärb
slang
: barbiturate
barbers
noun
as in stylists
a person who cuts and arranges hair went to the barber to get his hair cut and his beard trimmed Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- stylists
- hairdressers
- hairstylists
- haircutters
- beauticians
- cosmetologists
- coiffeurs
- trichologists
- coiffeuses