Tuesday, 19 March 2013

Barbal

Simon Le Bon, Duran Duran, barbal, beard
Simon Le Bon. With a beard. Looking like me. Oh yes he is.
(Photo by Eva Rinaldi)

BARBAL

Adjective. Rare. M17.
[from Latin barba beard + -AL]

Of or pertaining to the beard.

A year or so ago when I grew a beard, a friend (on seeing it for the first time) remarked that I looked like Simon Le Bon. To be truthful, I don't think she had looked at me very closely, it was probably just an offhand comment, and she would probably have retracted it had she made a closer inspection. Regardless, I mentally pounced on the compliment, and whenever anyone has since said they don't like my barbal efforts, I reply dismissively: "Oh really? Because Jo says it makes me look like Simon Le Bon."


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11 comments:

  1. BibiTuesday, 19 March 2013 at 11:48:00 GMT

    I kinda like beards on some men. You know the kind, big teddy bears. Yeah... somehow you can't be a real big teddy bear without a beard. Barbal bear.

    RYC She's cute, isn't she? Much cuter than me when I'm deeply embarrassed. My face just gets really red and I start half-blabbing/half-stuttering.

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    Replies
    1. Ed @ LexicolatryTuesday, 19 March 2013 at 17:15:00 GMT

      Hmm. "Big teddy bear" wasn't the look I was going for!

      Delete
    2. BibiTuesday, 19 March 2013 at 20:18:00 GMT

      No? I guess it's a normal for sailors too. And rockers. And cavemen. And vikings.





      ....................................Are you a viking?

      Delete
    3. Ed @ LexicolatryTuesday, 19 March 2013 at 20:20:00 GMT

      Yes ... I'm a sensitive viking that reads the dictionary between raids : o )

      Delete
    4. BibiTuesday, 19 March 2013 at 20:49:00 GMT

      They come in all colours and flavours.

      (I don't even know if that's an expression in English, I just translated literally from Dutch.)

      Delete
  2. Evi @ sexta-feiraTuesday, 19 March 2013 at 19:10:00 GMT

    My husband and I always have a fight when he trims his beard more than is necessary. So, I guess I like beards a lot.

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    Replies
    1. Ed @ LexicolatryFriday, 8 November 2013 at 12:37:00 GMT

      It's the opposite argument in my house, I'm afraid. I keep wanting to really go cave-man, but the wife says no.

      Delete
  3. -E-Wednesday, 20 March 2013 at 00:10:00 GMT

    Nice use of the word there, "my barbal efforts".

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    Replies
    1. Ed @ LexicolatryFriday, 8 November 2013 at 12:36:00 GMT

      Thank you! Can a man in mid-30s really have a man's beard? I'm beginning to think I can.

      Delete
  4. Evi @ sexta-feiraWednesday, 7 August 2013 at 21:06:00 BST

    So last night, much to the disappointment of the aforementioned husband, I retweeted a short article from Cosmopolitan. Before you dismiss the link (men...), watch the video, it's really fun and fast-paced.

    http://www.cosmopolitan.com/celebrity/news/why-man-needs-beard?src=spr_TWITTER&spr_id=1440_14794271

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    Replies
    1. Ed @ LexicolatryFriday, 8 November 2013 at 12:35:00 GMT

      Evi! I've only just found this comment now - I watched the video and *loved* it. It made me feel very manly and I'm probably going to be flouncing around the house with my chin proudly elevated for the rest of the day. Thank you!

      Delete

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