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. Günther, 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., v. (1840), 160. His barbel first adoun he deth, Withouten colour his neb he seth.
