barbastel
|bar/bas/tel|
🇺🇸
/ˌbɑr.bəˈstɛl/
🇬🇧
/ˌbɑː.bəˈstɛl/
small bearded bat
Etymology
'barbastel' originates from Neo-Latin, specifically the word 'Barbastella', where 'barba' meant 'beard' and the diminutive suffix '-ella' implied 'small'.
'barbastel' changed from Neo-Latin 'Barbastella' and was adopted into French as 'barbastelle' before entering English usage as 'barbastelle' or the variant 'barbastel'.
Initially, it meant 'little bearded one' (a descriptive name referring to facial or fur features); over time it evolved into a technical name for the genus and common name for the species.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a small insectivorous bat of the genus Barbastella, especially the western barbastelle (Barbastella barbastellus); characterized by short snout and broad, rounded ears.
The barbastel emerged from the crevice at dusk to hunt moths.
Synonyms
Noun 2
any species belonging to the genus Barbastella; used in zoological or natural-history contexts.
Researchers recorded several barbastels in the survey of the forest bat fauna.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2026/01/14 05:14