Word Study
barbule
CIDE DICTIONARY
barbule, n. [L. barbula, fr. barba beard.].
- A very minute barb or beard. Booth. [1913 Webster]
- One of the processes along the edges of the barbs of a feather, by which adjacent barbs interlock. See Feather. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
barbule, n. a minute filament projecting from the barb of a feather.
Etymology
L barbula, dimin. of barba beard
THESAURUS
barbule
antenna, barb, barbel, barrel, cat whisker, cilium, feeler, filament, filamentule, palp, palpus, quill, shaft, tactile cell, tactile corpuscle, tactile hair, tactile organ, tactile process, tactor, vibrissaFor further exploring for "barbule" in Webster Dictionary Online