Langimage
English

barbeau

|bar/beau|

C2

🇺🇸

/bɑrˈboʊ/

🇬🇧

/bɑːˈbəʊ/

bearded fish

Etymology
Etymology Information

'barbeau' originates from French, specifically the word 'barbeau', where 'barbe' meant 'beard' (Latin 'barba').

Historical Evolution

'barbeau' changed from Latin 'barba' (meaning 'beard') into Old French 'barbe' and then French 'barbeau', and was borrowed into English as 'barbeau'.

Meaning Changes

Initially it referred to 'beard' (Latin 'barba'); over time the term was applied to fish with beard-like barbels and came to mean 'a barbel (fish)' in English.

Meanings by Part of Speech

Noun 1

a freshwater fish of the carp family (a barbel), especially used rarely or archaically in English to refer to Barbus spp.

He caught a large barbeau in the river.

Synonyms

Last updated: 2026/01/14 06:38