"The arrangement shown in fig. 22, where a, a, a, a, are four barbs in transverse section, viewed from the cut surfaces, with their anterior, b, b, b, b, and posterior, c, c, c, c, barbules, the former bearing the hooklets which catch over the edge of the latter." Elliot Coues, 1884

Barbs

"The arrangement shown in fig. 22, where a, a, a, a, are four barbs in transverse section, viewed from…

"Fig. - 20 - Two barbs, a, a, of a vane, bearing anterior, b, b, and posterior, c, barbules; enlarged; after Nitzsch." Elliot Coues, 1884

Structure of a Feather

"Fig. - 20 - Two barbs, a, a, of a vane, bearing anterior, b, b, and posterior, c, barbules; enlarged;…

"A large nail or pin, generally of iron. The larger forms of spikes, particularly railroad spikes, are chisel-pointed, and have a head or fang projecting to one side to bite the rail. Spikes are also made split, barbed, grooved, and of other shapes." —Whitney, 1889
<p>Illustration of a barbed spike.

Barbed Spike

"A large nail or pin, generally of iron. The larger forms of spikes, particularly railroad spikes, are…