Bar″na‐cle, n. [OE. bernak, bernacle; cf. OF. bernac, and Prov. F. (Berri) berniques, spectacles.] 1. pl.(Far.) An instrument for pinching a horse's nose, and thus restraining him. [Formerly used in the sing.]
The barnacles... give pain almost equal to that of the switch. Youatt.
2. pl. Spectacles; — so called from their resemblance to the barnacles used by farriers. Dickens.