barb1

noun

• 1a sharp projection near the end of an arrow, fish hook, or similar object, which is angled away from the main point so as to make extraction difficult.
• a cluster of spikes on barbed wire.
• a deliberately hurtful remark:his barb hurt more than she cared to admit

• 2a beard-like filament at the mouth of some fish, such as barbel and catfish.
• each of the fine hair-like filaments growing from the shaft of a feather, forming the vane.

• 3a freshwater fish with barbels around the mouth, popular in aquaria.

  • Barbus and other genera, family Cyprinidae: numerous species