Bristle: meaning, definitions and examples

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bristle

[ ˈbrɪsəl ]

^{Context #1}

brush

a stiff animal hair or synthetic fiber used for cleaning or painting

Synonyms

bristle broom, bristle brush, fiber

Examples of usage

The artist used a bristle brush to paint the fine details.
She swept the floor with a bristle broom.

^{Context #2}

anger

a short, stiff hair, typically one of those on an animal's skin, that is used to sense touch or to brush away insects

Synonyms

hair, quill, spine

Examples of usage

The cat's bristles stood on end as a sign of aggression.
He felt his bristles rise at the insult.

^{Context #3}

react defensively

to react defensively or with anger

Synonyms

become agitated, react defensively, show anger

Examples of usage

She bristled at the criticism of her work.
The dog bristled at the stranger's approach.

Translations

Translations of the word "bristle" in other languages:

🇵🇹 cerda

🇮🇳 कांटा

🇩🇪 Borste

🇮🇩 bulu kasar

🇺🇦 щетина

🇵🇱 szczecina

🇯🇵 剛毛 (ごうもう)

🇫🇷 soie

🇪🇸 cerda

🇹🇷 kıl

🇰🇷 거친 털

🇸🇦 شعيرة

🇨🇿 štětina

🇸🇰 štetina

🇨🇳 鬃毛 (zōng máo)

🇸🇮 ščetina

🇮🇸 burst

🇰🇿 қылшық

🇬🇪 ჯაგარი

🇦🇿 tük

🇲🇽 cerda

Word origin

The word 'bristle' originated from the Old English word 'byrstl', which referred to a bristle or stiff hair. Over time, it came to be used in various contexts related to stiff hair-like structures, such as animal hairs or fibers used in brushes. The term has also been associated with the idea of bristling in anger or defensiveness, reflecting the sharp and prickly nature of bristles. Today, 'bristle' is commonly used to describe both physical hair-like structures and emotional reactions characterized by hostility or agitation.