barbel

American  

[bahr-buhl] / ˈbɑr bəl /

noun

1. a slender, external process on the jaw or other part of the head of certain fishes.

2. any of various cyprinoid fishes of the genus Barbus, especially B. barbus, of European waters.

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barbel British  

/ ˈbɑːbəl /

noun

1. any of several slender tactile spines or bristles that hang from the jaws of certain fishes, such as the catfish and carp

2. 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

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barbel Scientific  

/ bär′bəl /

1. A slender, whiskerlike feeler extending from the head of certain fish, such as the catfish. It is used for touch and taste.

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Etymology

Origin of barbel

1400–1450; late Middle English barbell < Middle French barbel ( French barbeau ) < Vulgar Latin *barbellus, equivalent to Late Latin barb ( us ) a barbel (fish) (akin to Latin barba beard ) + Latin -ellus -elle

Example Sentences

Thompson-Herah joins another Jamaican, Veronica Campbell-Brown, and Barbel Wockel of the former East Germany as the third back-to-back champion in the 200.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 3, 2021

Says Barbel Bohley, one of the founders of New Forum: "We want to remain pluralist because we have suffered under this conformist-minded system which has governed our lives."

From Time Magazine Archive

"You cannot build a new start on a lie," says Barbel Bohley, a leading civil rights activist from Eastern Germany.

From Time Magazine Archive

"The West Germans are hijacking our campaign," moaned Barbel Bohley, a founder of New Forum, which led the popular revolt against the Communists last year.

From Time Magazine Archive

There is nothing better," said Barbel, noticing my glance toward this novel counterpane, "for a bed-covering than newspapers; they keep you as warm as a blanket, and are much lighter.

From The Magic Egg and Other Stories by Stockton, Frank Richard