'barbet' originates from French, specifically the word 'barbet', a diminutive of 'barbe' where 'barbe' meant 'beard' (from Latin 'barba').

'barbet' developed from Middle French 'barbet' (a diminutive of 'barbe') and was borrowed into English to name birds (and later the dog breed), preserving the reference to a 'bearded' or bristled appearance.

Initially the elements referred to 'beard' or 'small beard' (literally a little beard); over time the term came to denote birds with bristle-like feathers around the bill and, separately, a French water dog breed noted for a shaggy or bearded appearance.