Definition of bristle
(Entry 1 of 2)
: a short stiff coarse hair or filament
hog bristles short bristle paint brushes
bristle
verbDefinition of bristle (Entry 2 of 2)
1
: to furnish with short stiff coarse hairs or filaments : to furnish with bristles
1a
: to rise and stand stiffly erect
quills bristling
b
: to raise the bristles (as in anger)
a snarling, bristling dog
2
: to take on an aggressively defensive attitude (as in response to a slight or criticism)
he bristled at the accusations of corruption
3a
: 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
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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Time Traveler for bristle
The first known use of bristle was in the 14th century
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