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barbless

[ bahrb-lis ]

/ ˈbɑrb lɪs /

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adjective

not equipped with a barb: barbless fishhooks.

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Origin of barbless

First recorded in 1880–85; barb¹ + -less

Words nearby barbless

barbiturates, barbituric, barbituric acid, barbiturism, Barbizon School, barbless, barbotine, Barbour, Barbour jacket, Bar-B-Q, bar-b-que

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use barbless in a sentence

The other two Japs have short, stiff poles with a wire attached and the barbless hook at the end.
Tales of Fishes|Zane Grey
It is barbless, and in place of the barb, the hook is filed long and tapering to a point as sharp as that of a needle.
Tales of the Fish Patrol|Jack London
With these barbless hooks the bait was not impaled, but strapped on with shreds of bark.
Tropic Days|E. J. Banfield
And at the time when the Bard stood up to claim the wife, a strange warrior came into the encampment, holding a barbless spear.
Evelyn Innes|George Moore

The fang′-kao, or barbless lance blade, is next common in use.
The Bontoc Igorot|Albert Ernest Jenks