I. ˈbri-səl noun
Etymology: Middle English bristil, from brust bristle, from Old English byrst; akin to Old High German burst bristle, and perhaps to Latin fastigium top
Date: 14th century
: a short stiff coarse hair or filament
• bris·tle·like ˈbri-sə(l)-ˌlīk adjective
II. verb
( bris·tled ; bris·tling ˈbris-liŋ, ˈbri-sə-)
Date: 15th century
transitive verb
1. : to furnish with bristles
2. : to make bristly : ruffle
intransitive verb
1.
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 bristle s with detail and irony — W. J. Broad