barbules
/ˈbɑrbjulz/
noun
- Plural of barbule; the small hairlike projections on feather barbs that interlock to form a smooth surface.
- The barbules on a bird's feather are essential for flight because they create a solid surface.
- Damaged barbules can cause a feather to look frayed and lose its insulating ability.
- Ornithologists study barbules to understand how different birds adapt to their environments.