vibrissa
[ vahy-bris-uh ]
/ vaɪˈbrɪs ə /
noun, plural vi·bris·sae [vahy-bris-ee] /vaɪˈbrɪs i/.
one of the stiff, bristly hairs growing about the mouth of certain animals, as a whisker of a cat.
one of the long, slender, bristlelike feathers growing along the side of the mouth in many birds.
Origin of vibrissa
1685–95; < Medieval Latin, derivative of Latin
vibrāre to shake
OTHER WORDS FROM vibrissa
vi·bris·sal, adjectiveWords nearby vibrissa
Example sentences from the Web for vibrissa
A bristle (vibrissa) on each side of the face near the margin of the mouth.
Handbook of Medical Entomology |William Albert Riley
British Dictionary definitions for vibrissa
vibrissa
/ (vaɪˈbrɪsə) /
noun plural -sae (-siː) (usually plural)
any of the bristle-like sensitive hairs on the face of many mammals; a whisker
any of the specialized bristle-like feathers around the beak in certain insectivorous birds
Derived forms of vibrissa
vibrissal, adjectiveWord Origin for vibrissa
C17: from Latin, probably from
vibrāre to shake
Medical definitions for vibrissa
vibrissa
[ vī-brĭs′ə, və- ]
n. pl. vi•bris•sae (-brĭs′ē)
Any of the hairs growing at the anterior nares.
Any of the long, stiff hairs projecting from the anterior nares of most mammals, as cat whiskers.
Scientific definitions for vibrissa
vibrissa
[ vī-brĭs′ə, və- ]
Plural vibrissae (vī-brĭs′ē, və-)
Any of the long, stiff, bristlelike hairs that project from the snout or brow of most mammals, as the whiskers of a cat or rat. Vibrissae often serve as tactile organs, especially in nocturnal animals and marine mammals such as seals and manatees.
Any of several long modified feathers that grow along the sides of the beak of certain birds and help trap insects caught in flight.