Barbe Bleu(e)

The name Bluebeard arose from a simple confusion. The word 'barbe' has two meanings in French. One, in the feminine, means 'beard'. The other, in the masculine, means 'Barbary horse'. Gilles rode a Barbary horse, covered, most probably, with a blue cloth. 'Barbe Bleu' became 'Barbe Bleue' and the legend was born.

- Author's Note to 2003 Edition

The Real Bluebeard – The Life of Gilles de Rais
Jean Benedetti

Sutton Publishing
ISBN 0 7509 3448 4