bristle

bristle
I. noun Etymology: Middle English bristil, from brust bristle, from Old English byrst; akin to Old High German burst bristle, and perhaps to Latin fastigium top Date: 14th century a short stiff coarse hair or filament • bristlelike adjective II. verb (bristled; bristling) Date: 15th century transitive verb 1. to furnish with bristles 2. to make bristly ; ruffle intransitive verb 1. a. to rise and stand stiffly erect <
quills bristling
>
b. to raise the bristles (as in anger) 2. to take on an aggressively defensive attitude (as in response to a slight or criticism) <
he bristled at the accusations of corruption
>
3. a. to be full of or covered with especially something suggestive of bristles <
roofs bristled with chimneys
>
b. to be full of something specified <
book bristles with detail and irony — W. J. Broad
>

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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  • Bristle — Bris tle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Bristled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Bristling}.] 1. To erect the bristles of; to cause to stand up, as the bristles of an angry hog; sometimes with up. [1913 Webster] Now for the bare picked bone of majesty Doth dogged war… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Bristle — Bris tle, v. i. 1. To rise or stand erect, like bristles. [1913 Webster] His hair did bristle upon his head. Sir W. Scott. [1913 Webster] 2. To appear as if covered with bristles; to have standing, thick and erect, like bristles. [1913 Webster]… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • bristle — [n] short, prickly hair barb, feeler, fiber, point, prickle, quill, spine, stubble, thorn, vibrissa, whisker; concept 418 bristle [v] become upset, excited be angry, be infuriated, be maddened, blow up*, boil, boil over, bridle, flare, flare up,… …   New thesaurus

  • bristle — ► NOUN 1) a short, stiff hair on an animal s skin or a man s face. 2) a stiff animal or artificial hair, used to make a brush. ► VERB 1) (of hair or fur) stand upright away from the skin. 2) react angrily or defensively. 3) (bristle with) be… …   English terms dictionary

  • bristle — [bris′əl] n. [ME bristel, metathetic < OE byrst; akin to Ger borste, bristles < IE * bhr̥sti < base * bhar , point, bristle] 1. any short, stiff, prickly hair of an animal or plant 2. a) any of the hairs of a hog or of some other animals …   English World dictionary

  • Bristle — Bris tle (br[i^]s s l), n. [OE. bristel, brustel, AS. bristl, byrst; akin to D. borstel, OHG. burst, G. borste, Icel. burst, Sw. borst, and to Skr. bh[.r]shti edge, point, and prob, L. fastigium extremity, Gr. a flaston stern of a ship, and E.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • bristle — index resent Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • bristle — vb bridle, *strut, swagger Analogous words: preen, plume *pride, pique: evince, manifest, *show, evidence: flaunt, parade, display, exhibit (see SHOW) Contrasted words: conceal, *hide, bury …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Bristle — A bristle is a stiff hair or feather. Also used are synthetic materials such as nylon or straw in items such as brooms and sweepers. Bristles are often used to make brushes for cleaning uses, as they are strongly abrasive; common examples include …   Wikipedia

  • bristle — bris|tle1 [ˈbrısəl] n [Date: 1200 1300; : Old English; Origin: byrst bristle ] 1.) [U and C] a short stiff hair that feels rough ▪ His chin was covered with bristles. 2.) a short stiff hair, wire etc that forms part of a brush bristle 2 bristle2 …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • bristle — {{11}}bristle (n.) O.E. byrst bristle, with metathesis of r , from P.Gmc. *bors (Cf. M.Du. borstel, Ger. borste), from PIE *bhrsti from root *bhar point, bristle (Cf. Skt. bhrstih point, spike ). With el, dim. suffix. {{12}}bristle ( …   Etymology dictionary

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