barbed Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb provide with barbs
    barb.
    • barbed wire
  2. adjective satellite capable of wounding
    biting; pungent; nipping; mordacious.
    • a barbed compliment
    • a biting aphorism
    • pungent satire
  3. adjective satellite having or covered with protective barbs or quills or spines or thorns or setae etc.
    burry; briary; bristly; briery; setaceous; thorny; barbellate; prickly; spiny; burred; setose; bristled.
    • a horse with a short bristly mane
    • bristly shrubs
    • burred fruits
    • setaceous whiskers

WordNet

Barbed adjective
Etymology
See 4th Bare.
Definitions
  1. Accoutered with defensive armor; -- said of a horse. See Barded ( which is the proper form.) Sir W. Raleigh.
Barbed adjective
Definitions
  1. Furnished with a barb or barbs; as, a barbed arrow; barbed wire.

Webster 1913