barbel

The story

1. Latin · derived frombarbus“barbel”
2. Late Latin · derived frombarbulus
3. Vulgar Latin · derived from*barbellus
4. Old French · derived frombarbel
5. Middle English · inherited frombarbel
6. English todaybarbel

PIE word *bʰardʰéh₂ From Middle English barbel, from Old French barbel, from Vulgar Latin *barbellus, from Late Latin barbulus, diminutive of Latin barbus (“barbel”); barbus itself is from barba (“beard”). By surface analysis, Latin barb(us) (“beard, barbel”) + -el (diminutive suffix), and also, by surface analysis, barb (“sharp, extruding structure”) + -el (diminutive suffix).