(bär'bəl)
n. One of the slender, whiskerlike tactile organs extending from the head of certain fishes, such as catfishes. Also called
barb.
[Obsolete French, from Old French, from Medieval Latin barbula, diminutive of Late Latin barbus, beard, from Latin barba.]
bar·bel2 (bär'bəl)
n. Any of several Old World freshwater fish of the genus
Barbus, especially
B. barbus, having four barbels on its upper jaw.
[Middle English, from Old French, from Medieval Latin *barbellus, diminutive of barbus, from Latin barba, beard. See barbel1.]