BRISTLE

I. noun Etymology: Middle English bristil, from brust ~, from Old English byrst; akin to Old High German burst ~, and perhaps to Latin fastigium top Date: 14th century a short stiff coarse hair or filament, ~like adjective II. verb (~d; bristling) Date: 15th century transitive verb to furnish with ~s, to make bristly ; ruffle , intransitive verb 1. to rise and stand stiffly erect , to raise the ~s (as in anger), to take on an aggressively defensive attitude (as in response to a slight or criticism) , 3. to be full of or covered with especially something suggestive of ~s , to be full of something specified