The term 'Barbershop Symbol' is often used to refer to the iconic striped POLE, which is a four-letter word: POLE. This symbol has been used for centuries to indicate the presence of a barbershop. It is believed to have originated in the Middle Ages, when barbers were also surgeons and used the POLE to hang blood-stained bandages outside their shops. The POLE is usually red and white, representing the colors of the traditional barber's POLE.