I. ˈhwiskə(r) also ˈwi- noun
( -s )
Etymology: whisk (II) + -er
1.
a. : a hair of the beard — usually used in plural
had a two days' growth of thick, grizzled whiskers — Danforth Ross
b. whiskers plural
(1) archaic : moustache
(2) : the part of the beard growing on the sides of the face or on the chin ; especially : side-whiskers
c. : hairbreadth
temperatures hovered a whisker below freezing — Springfield (Massachusetts) Daily News
2.
a. : one of the long projecting hairs or bristles growing near the mouth of an animal (as a cat or bird)
b. : an antenna or feeler especially of an insect
c. whiskers plural : an abundant grayish white growth of a mold (genus Mucor and related fungi) on food (as bread or meat) consisting of superficial hyphae
3. or whisker boom : an outrigger extending on each side of the bowsprit to spread the jib and flying jib guys — usually used in plural; see ship illustration
4. : a hairy shred or filament likened to a whisker: as
a. : cat whisker
b. : hairline 2c(4) — usually used in plural
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
1. : to furnish with whiskers
a whiskered jersey with rabbit's hair content — Women's Wear Daily
2. : to remove the splinters from (a gun stock)
III. noun
: a thin hairlike crystal (as of sapphire or copper) of exceptional mechanical strength used especially to reinforce composite structural material