'barbicel' originates from Latin via Old French, ultimately tied to the Latin word 'barba', where 'barba' meant 'beard'.

'barbicel' developed from Old or Middle French diminutive forms related to 'barbe' (beard) such as 'barbelle'/'barbicule' and was adopted into English as 'barbicel' with specialized anatomical usage.

Initially it meant 'little beard' (a diminutive of 'beard'), but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a small hook- or beard-like projection on feathers or plant structures'.