Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1300-1400
Language: Old French
Origin: barbe 'barb, beard', from Latin barba

barb

 noun
     
barb [countable]
1 the sharp curved point of a hook, arrow etc that prevents it from being easily pulled out
2 a remark that is clever and amusing, but also cruel
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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