bristle

[ bris-uh l ]
/ ˈbrɪs əl /

noun

one of the short, stiff, coarse hairs of certain animals, especially hogs, used extensively in making brushes.
anything resembling these hairs.

verb (used without object), bris·tled, bris·tling.

verb (used with object), bris·tled, bris·tling.

Origin of bristle

before 1000; Middle English bristel, equivalent to brist (Old English byrst bristle, cognate with German Borste, Old Norse burst) + -el diminutive suffix

OTHER WORDS FROM bristle

bris·tle·less, adjective bris·tle·like, adjective non·bris·tled, adjective un·bris·tled, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for bristling

British Dictionary definitions for bristling

bristle
/ (ˈbrɪsəl) /

noun

any short stiff hair of an animal or plant
something resembling these hair toothbrush bristle

verb

Derived forms of bristle

bristly, adjective

Word Origin for bristle

C13 bristil, brustel, from earlier brust, from Old English byrst; related to Old Norse burst, Old High German borst