Any of the minute hooked filaments that interlock the barbules of a bird's feathers.
Example sentencesExamples
Along the edge of the barb are numerous barbicels, we refer to them as Velcro hooks.
Barbs can be separated from each other and smoothed back into place because barbules and barbicels act somewhat like a zipper.
Often part of a bird's incessant cleaning routine is the straightening of wing primaries, which seems to help reattatch the barbicels so the wings remain fully functional.
It is important for the feathers to be relatively broad, with a web of good firm texture, a strong shaft, the barbs, barbules, and barbicels closely and tightly knitted together.
Two sets of barbules branch off from each barb and interlocked by means of tinier barbicels to give the feather great strength and smoothness.
Definition of barbicel in US English:
barbicel
nounˈbärbəˌsel
Any of the minute hooked filaments that interlock the barbules of a bird's feathers.
Example sentencesExamples
Along the edge of the barb are numerous barbicels, we refer to them as Velcro hooks.
Two sets of barbules branch off from each barb and interlocked by means of tinier barbicels to give the feather great strength and smoothness.
Barbs can be separated from each other and smoothed back into place because barbules and barbicels act somewhat like a zipper.
Often part of a bird's incessant cleaning routine is the straightening of wing primaries, which seems to help reattatch the barbicels so the wings remain fully functional.
It is important for the feathers to be relatively broad, with a web of good firm texture, a strong shaft, the barbs, barbules, and barbicels closely and tightly knitted together.