bristle
pronunciation
How to pronounce bristle in British English: UK [ˈbrɪsl]
How to pronounce bristle in American English: US [ˈbrɪsəl]
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- Noun:
- a stiff fiber (coarse hair or filament); natural or synthetic
- a stiff hair
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- Verb:
- be in a state of movement or action
- rise up as in fear
Word Origin
- bristle (n.)
- Old English byrst "bristle," with metathesis of -r-, from Proto-Germanic *bursti- (cognates: Middle Dutch borstel, German borste), from PIE *bhrsti- from root *bhars- "point, bristle" (cognates: Sanskrit bhrstih "point, spike"). With -el, diminutive suffix.
- bristle (v.)
- c. 1200 (implied in past participle adjective bristled) "set or covered with bristles," from bristle (n.). Meaning "become angry or excited" is 1540s, from the way animals show fight. Related: Bristling.
Example
- 1. Cross-border deals bristle with cultural challenges .
- 2. This toothbrush is real bristle .
- 3. That is a notion at which britain and others will bristle .
- 4. The street bristle with armed guards after the latest terrorist attack .
- 5. The politically correct will bristle at mr ferguson 's defence of empire-though he does not shy from its enormities .