Main Entry:

²bristle

Function:

verb

Inflected Form(s):

bris·tled; bris·tling \ˈbris-liŋ, ˈbri-sə-\

Date:

15th century

transitive verb1: to furnish with bristles2: to make bristly : ruffleintransitive verb1 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>