barbel

[ bahr-buhl ]

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.

barbel

/ 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

barbel

/ 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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of barbel¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of barbel¹

C14: from Old French, from Latin barbus , from barba beard

Example Sentences

As she grows, her eyes recede, and she blossoms huge teeth, rows of light-producing organs lining the body, and a barbel, a whisker-like chin projection.

From National Geographic

The research team, called the Cenozoic CO2 Proxy Integration Project, or CenCO2PIP, and organized by Columbia University climate scientist Bärbel Hönisch, set out to evaluate, categorize and integrate available proxies to create a high-fidelity record of atmospheric CO2.

From Science Daily

There were also "quite a few" larger dead specimens including chub, barbel and brown trout that had been seen.

From BBC

Parliament Speaker Bärbel Bas said she was appalled by the action and has “no understanding for it.”

From Seattle Times

“We really appreciate that on the Day of Remembrance and Reconciliation itself, and in what for us is such a trying time of war, the President of the German Bundestag Bärbel Bas came to support Ukraine,” said a post published Sunday afternoon on Zelenskyy’s Telegram channel.

From Seattle Times