barbe

barbe — noun

1. a sharp, backward-pointing projection found on certain animals and plants, such

1.名詞C2
釋義

a sharp, backward-pointing projection found on certain animals and plants, such as the whiskers of a catfish, the quills of a porcupine, or the stems of roses and cacti.

例句

Esme pricked her finger on a rose barbe while trimming the garden bushes.

collocation: rose barbe / barbe of a rose

Under the microscope, the tiny barbe on the catfish whisker looked like a small hook.

同義詞
  • barb

    the standard modern spelling; identical meaning

  • prickle

    a small, sharp outgrowth on a plant, usually softer than a barb

  • spine

    a stiff, sharp-pointed outgrowth on an animal or plant, often larger than a barb

文法句型

barbe + of + noun

用法筆記

This spelling (barbe) is a French-influenced variant of 'barb'. The standard modern spelling is 'barb' (without the final 'e'), and 'barbe' is very rare in contemporary English except in historical or specialised biological texts.

常見錯誤

❌The fish has sharp barbe on its fins.
✅The fish has sharp barbs on its fins.
💡The standard spelling for the animal/plant sense is 'barb', not 'barbe'.

2. a band of fabric worn by medieval European women around the neck and chin, often

2.名詞C2
釋義

a band of fabric worn by medieval European women around the neck and chin, often edged with lace, that formed part of the customary modest dress from the 14th to the 16th centuries.

例句

The museum displayed a 15th-century barbe of white linen trimmed with delicate lace.

pattern: barbe of [material]

Ingrid stitched a lace barbe by hand for her role in the historical pageant.

collocation: lace barbe

同義詞
  • wimple

    a similar garment that covers the head, chin, and sides of the face, usually made of linen; the barbe was typically shorter

  • gorget

    a piece of armour or cloth covering the throat, later worn as part of formal attire

用法筆記

The barbe was commonly worn by married women and nuns in medieval Europe. It covered the neck and sometimes the chin, reflecting the modesty standards of the period. The spelling 'barbe' (not 'barb') is the standard form for this sense — the two words are historically unrelated.