barbless en · ADJ
Etymology
Etymology tree English barb Proto-Indo-European *lewh₁- Proto-Indo-European *lewHs-der. Proto-Germanic *leusaną Proto-Germanic *lausaz Proto-Germanic *-lausaz Proto-West Germanic *-laus Old English -lēas Middle English -les English -less English barbless From barb + -less.
Meanings
-
(not-comparable) Lacking a barb.
We used barbless fishhooks in the catch-and-release stream, in order to minimize harm to the fish.
- (not-comparable) Of a feather, lacking barbs.