'Bristle' definitions:

Definition of 'bristle'

From: WordNet
noun
A stiff fiber (coarse hair or filament); natural or synthetic
noun
A stiff hair
verb
Be in a state of movement or action; "The room abounded with screaming children"; "The garden bristled with toddlers" [syn: abound, burst, bristle]
verb
Rise up as in fear; "The dog's fur bristled"; "It was a sight to make one's hair uprise!" [syn: bristle, uprise, stand up]
verb
Have or be thickly covered with or as if with bristles; "bristling leaves"
verb
React in an offended or angry manner; "He bristled at her suggestion that he should teach her how to use the program"

Definition of 'Bristle'

From: GCIDE
  • Bristle \Bris"tle\ (br[i^]s"s'l), n. [OE. bristel, brustel, AS. bristl, byrst; akin to D. borstel, OHG. burst, G. borste, Icel. burst, Sw. borst, and to Skr. bh[.r]shti edge, point, and prob, L. fastigium extremity, Gr. 'a`flaston stern of a ship, and E. brush, burr, perh. to brad. [root]96.]
  • 1. A short, stiff, coarse hair, as on the back of swine. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. (Bot.) A stiff, sharp, roundish hair. --Gray. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Bristle'

From: GCIDE
  • Bristle \Bris"tle\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bristled; p. pr. & vb. n. Bristling.]
  • 1. To erect the bristles of; to cause to stand up, as the bristles of an angry hog; -- sometimes with up. [1913 Webster]
  • Now for the bare-picked bone of majesty Doth dogged war bristle his angry crest. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • Boy, bristle thy courage up. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. To fix a bristle to; as, to bristle a thread. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Bristle'

From: GCIDE
  • Bristle \Bris"tle\, v. i.
  • 1. To rise or stand erect, like bristles. [1913 Webster]
  • His hair did bristle upon his head. --Sir W. Scott. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. To appear as if covered with bristles; to have standing, thick and erect, like bristles. [1913 Webster]
  • The hill of La Haye Sainte bristling with ten thousand bayonets. --Thackeray. [1913 Webster]
  • Ports bristling with thousands of masts. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. To show defiance or indignation. [1913 Webster]
  • To bristle up, to show anger or defiance. [1913 Webster]

Synonyms of 'bristle'

From: Moby Thesaurus