whis ‧ ker /ˈwɪskə $ -ər/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1600-1700 ; Origin: whiskers 'mustache' (16-20 centuries) , from whisker 'something that whisks or sweeps' (15-19 centuries) , from whisk ; because the mustache looks like a small brush ]
1 . [usually plural] one of the long stiff hairs that grow near the mouth of a cat, mouse etc
2 . [usually plural] one of the hairs that grow on a man’s face
3 . win/lose by a whisker informal to win or lose by a very small amount:
Schmidt finished second, losing by a whisker in the final event.
4 . come within a whisker of (doing) something to almost succeed or fail at doing something:
Doctors say he came within a whisker of dying on the operating table.