barbel
(ˈbɑːbəl)
Forms: 4–5 barbell(e, 5–6 -byl(l, 6–7 -bil(l, 6–8 -ble, 7 -bell, 6– barbel.
[a. OF. barbel (13th c. in Littré), mod. barbeau ‘barbel,’ and ‘little beard’:—late L. barbellus, dim. of barbus barbel (the fish), f. barba beard. Cf. It. barbolo the fish.]
1. A large European fresh-water fish (Barbus vulgaris) of the Carp tribe, deriving its name from the fleshy filaments which hang from its mouth.
| c 1380 Chaucer Balade Add. MS. 16156 B.M., Þat Barbell had swolowed boþe hooke and lace. 1496 Bk. St. Albans, Fysshynge (1810) 26 The barbyll is a swete fysshe, but it is a greasy meete and a peryllous for mannys body. 1558 Act 1 Eliz. xvii §1 No person..shall take..any Barbel not being in Length twelve Inches. 1570 Levins Manip. /29 A barble, fish, barbo, -onis. 1611 Coryat Crudities 477 Great abundance of good fishes..especially the delicate barbils. 1867 F. Francis Angling i. (1880) 50 The barbel, so named from the barbs or wattles that depend from the side of the mouth. |
2. A fleshy filament hanging from the corners of the mouth of some fishes, e.g. of the barbel.
| 1601 Holland Pliny I. 261 Her little hornes or Barbils which she [the sea-Frog] hath bearing forth vnder her eies. 1698 Phil. Trans. XX. 91 Those Barbles which..the Conger is never without. 1880 Gunther Fishes 37 Barbels..if developed and movable, are sensitive organs of touch. |
3. A variety of house-pigeon. ? Obs. rare.
| 1741 Compl. Fam. Piece iii. 512 The Barbel has a red Eye, a short Tail, and a Bill like a Bulfinch. |
† 4. Part of a helmet protecting the chin (= OF. barbier, -iere.)
| c 1314 Guy Warw. (1840) 160 His barbel first adoun he deth, Withouten colour his neb he seth. |