'barbel' originates from Medieval Latin 'barbellus', ultimately from Latin 'barba', where 'barba' meant 'beard'.

'barbel' changed from Medieval Latin 'barbellus' (a diminutive of 'barba') into Middle English (via Old French influences) and eventually became the modern English word 'barbel'.

Initially, it meant 'little beard' (a small beard-like feature); over time the term came to denote both the beard-like sensory organs on fishes and the fish species noted for having such appendages.