barbel; barb; palp; palpus
Zoological term for a slender, whisker-like sensory organ found on fish (barbels) or arthropods (palps).
Catfish have barbels around their mouths.
Insect palps are used to sense smell and taste.
Compound of 触 (touch, feel) and 鬚 (beard, whiskers), literally 'touch whiskers'. The exact historical derivation is uncertain; the spelling is conventionally associated with the zoological meaning.