[bahr-buh
l] 
| 1. | a slender, external process on the jaw or other part of the head of certain fishes. |
| 2. | any of various cyprinoid fishes of the genus Barbus, esp. B. barbus, of European waters. |
| bar·bel 1 (bär'bəl) n. One of the slender, whiskerlike tactile organs extending from the head of certain fishes, such as catfishes. Also called barb1. [Obsolete French, from Old French, from Medieval Latin barbula, diminutive of Late Latin barbus, beard, from Latin barba; see bhardh-ā- in Indo-European roots.] |
| bar·bel 2 (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.] |