barbicel
noun
bar·bi·cel
ˈbär-bə-ˌsel 
: any of the small hook-bearing processes on a barbule of a feather see feather illustration
Examples of barbicel in a Sentence
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In modern birds, barbicels are the structures that allow flight feathers to retain their shape as birds flap their wings.
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Rachel Fritts, Ars Technica, 15 Jan. 2020
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Rachel Fritts, Ars Technica, 15 Jan. 2020
Cite this Entry
“Barbicel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/barbicel. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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