An aggressive remark directed at a person like a missile and intended to have a telling effect.

synonyms: dig, gibe, jibe, shaft, shot, slam.

Roget 271: carrier, porter, bearer, tranter^†, conveyer; cargador^†; express, expressman; stevedore, coolie; conductor, locomotive, motor.    beast, beast of burden, cattle, horse, nag, palfrey, Arab^†, blood horse, thoroughbred, galloway^†, charger, courser, racer, hunter, jument^†, pony, filly, colt, foal, barb, roan, jade, hack, bidet, pad, cob, tit, punch, roadster, goer^†; racehorse, pack horse, draft horse, cart horse, dray horse, post horse; ketch; Shetland pony, shelty, sheltie; garran^†, garron^†; jennet, genet^†, bayard^†, mare, stallion, gelding; bronco, broncho^†, cayuse [U.S.]; creature, critter [U.S.]; cow pony, mustang, Narraganset, waler^†; stud.    Pegasus, Bucephalus, Rocinante.    ass, donkey, jackass, mule, hinny; sumpter horse, sumpter mule; burro, cuddy^†, ladino [U.S.]; reindeer; camel, dromedary, llama, elephant; carrier pigeon.    [object used for carrying] pallet, brace, cart, dolley; support etc. 215; fork lift.    carriage etc. (vehicle) 272; ship etc. 273.    ... show more

Roget 253: sharpness etc. adj.; acuity, acumination^†; spinosity^†.    point, spike, spine, spicule [Biol.], spiculum^†; needle, hypodermic needle, tack, nail, pin; prick, prickle; spur, rowel, barb; spit, cusp; horn, antler; snag; tag thorn, bristle; Adam's needle^†, bear grass [U.S.], tine, yucca.    nib, tooth, tusk; spoke, cog, ratchet.    crag, crest, arete [Fr.], cone peak, sugar loaf, pike, aiguille^†; spire, pyramid, steeple.    beard, chevaux de frise [Fr.], porcupine, hedgehog, brier, bramble, thistle; comb; awn, beggar's lice, bur, burr, catchweed^†, cleavers, clivers^†, goose, grass, hairif^†, hariff, flax comb, hackle, hatchel^†, heckle.    wedge; knife edge, cutting edge; blade, edge tool, cutlery, knife, penknife, whittle, razor, razor blade, safety razor, straight razor, electric razor; scalpel; bistoury^†, lancet; plowshare, coulter, colter^†; hatchet, ax, pickax, mattock, pick, adze, gill; billhook, cleaver, cutter; scythe, sickle; scissors, shears, pruning shears, cutters, wire cutters, nail clipper, paper cutter; sword etc. (arms) 727; bodkin etc. (perforator) 262; belduque^†, bowie knife^†, paring knife; bushwhacker [U.S.]; drawing knife, drawing shave; microtome [Micro.]; chisel, screwdriver blade; flint blade; guillotine.    sharpener, hone, strop; grindstone, whetstone; novaculite^†; steel, emery.    ... show more

Dutch: hatelijkheid, speldenprik, speldeprik, steek, stekeligheid
Polish: przytyk, przycinek, przymówka

The pointed part of barbed wire.

A subsidiary point facing opposite from the main point that makes an arrowhead or spear hard to remove.

Dutch: weerhaak
Polish: zadzior

One of the parallel filaments projecting from the main shaft of a feather.

Provide with barbs.

Roget 253: be sharp etc. adj.; taper to a point; bristle with.    render sharp etc. adj.; sharpen, point, aculeate, whet, barb, spiculate^†, set, strop, grind; chip (flint). cut etc. (sunder) 44.    ... show more