A barber pole is the striped sign traditionally hung outside a barbershop to show it’s a place for haircuts and shaving. It usually has a red-and-white spiral, and in some places blue is included too.

What it means

The symbol dates back to old barber-surgeons, when barbers also performed minor medical procedures. The stripes are commonly explained as representing blood, bandages, and the pole itself.

Why it’s spinning

Many barber poles rotate to make the spiral stripes stand out and catch attention from the street. That movement is part of why the sign is so recognizable.

Simple example

If you walk past a shop and see a spinning red-and-white pole outside, that’s usually a barbershop.

TL;DR: a barber pole is the classic spiral-striped sign for a barbershop, with roots in older barber-surgeon history.