barbel

barbel
    n 1: slender tactile process on the jaws of a fish [syn:
         {barbel}, {feeler}]
    

Barb \Barb\ (b[aum]rb), n. [F. barbe, fr. L. barba beard. See
   {Beard}, n.]
   1. Beard, or that which resembles it, or grows in the place
      of it.
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            The barbel, so called by reason of his barbs, or
            wattles in his mouth.                 --Walton.
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   2. A muffler, worn by nuns and mourners. [Obs.]
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   3. pl. Paps, or little projections, of the mucous membrane,
      which mark the opening of the submaxillary glands under
      the tongue in horses and cattle. The name is mostly
      applied when the barbs are inflamed and swollen. [Written
      also {barbel} and {barble}.]
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   4. The point that stands backward in an arrow, fishhook,
      etc., to prevent it from being easily extracted. Hence:
      Anything which stands out with a sharp point obliquely or
      crosswise to something else. "Having two barbs or points."
      --Ascham.
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   5. A bit for a horse. [Obs.] --Spenser.
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   6. (Zool.) One of the side branches of a feather, which
      collectively constitute the vane. See {Feather}.
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   7. (Zool.) A southern name for the kingfishes of the eastern
      and southeastern coasts of the United States; -- also
      improperly called {whiting}.
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   8. (Bot.) A hair or bristle ending in a double hook.
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Barbel \Bar"bel\ (b[aum]r"b[e^]l), n.[OF. barbel, F. barbeau,
   dim. of L. barbus barbel, fr. barba beard. See 1st {Barb}.]
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   1. (Zool.) A slender tactile organ on the lips of certain
      fishes.
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   2. (Zool.) A large fresh-water fish ({Barbus vulgaris}) found
      in many European rivers. Its upper jaw is furnished with
      four barbels.
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   3. pl. Barbs or paps under the tongues of horses and cattle.
      See 1st {Barb}, 3.
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19 Moby Thesaurus words for "barbel":
      antenna, barb, barbule, bristle, cat whisker, feeler, palp, palpus,
      setula, setule, striga, stubble, tactile cell, tactile corpuscle,
      tactile hair, tactile organ, tactile process, tactor, vibrissa