barb
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.
Other meanings
A hurtful or disparaging remark.
A beard, or that which resembles it, or grows in the place of it.
Synonyms
- shaft
- dig
Word history
From Old French "barbe" (beard, beard-like element).
Where this comes from
This definition is adapted from “barb” on Wiktionary, by its contributors; related-word lists use Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0, based on Princeton WordNet), published under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page is published under the same licence.