(n.) A mark or short dash, thus [-], placed at the end of a line which terminates with a syllable of a word, the remainder of which is carried to the next line; or between the parts of many a compound word; as in fine-leaved, clear-headed. It is also sometimes used to separate the syllables of words.
HYPHEN
Meaning of HYPHEN in English
Webster's English dictionary. Английский словарь Webster. 2012