Plural of barb; sharp projections like those on barbwire, or small sharp spines pointing backward on hooks or arrows.
From Old French 'barbe' meaning 'beard,' because the sharp projections resemble beard hairs; later used for any sharp backward-pointing projection.
The barb design is pure physics genius—by pointing backward, it requires more force to pull out than to push in, which is why fishhooks, arrowheads, and barbed wire are so effective and have remained virtually unchanged for centuries.
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