barb

Noun

• one of the parallel filaments projecting from the main shaft of a feather

• a subsidiary point facing opposite from the main point that makes an arrowhead or spear hard to remove

• the pointed part of barbed wire

• an aggressive remark directed at a person like a missile and intended to have a telling effect
  • his parting shot was `drop dead'
    
  • she threw shafts of sarcasm
    
  • she takes a dig at me every chance she gets
    

Verb

• provide with barbs
  • barbed wire
    

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  shot , shaft , slam , dig , jibe , gibe