bristled


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Related to bristled:jointed

bris·tle

 (brĭs′əl)
n.
1. A stiff hair.
2. A stiff hairlike structure:the bristles of a wire brush.
v.bris·tled,bris·tling,bris·tles
v.intr.
1. To stand stiffly on end like bristles:The hair on the dog's neck bristled.
2. To raise the bristles:The cat bristled at the sight of the large dog.
3. To react in an angry or offended manner:The author bristled at the suggestion of plagiarism.
4. To be covered or thick with or as if with bristles:The path bristled with thorns.
v.tr.
1. To cause to stand erect like bristles; stiffen.
2. To furnish or supply with bristles.
3. To make bristly; ruffle.
[Middle Englishbristel, probably from Old English*byrstel, frombyrst,bristle.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Adj.1.bristled - having or covered with protective barbs or quills or spines or thorns or setae etc.bristled - having or covered with protective barbs or quills or spines or thorns or setae etc.; "a horse with a short bristly mane"; "bristly shrubs"; "burred fruits"; "setaceous whiskers"
armed - (used of plants and animals) furnished with bristles and thorns
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.


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This was her day--and it came not often--when manesbristled, and fang smote fang or ripped and tore the yielding flesh, all for the possession of her.
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Here and there savage dogs rushed upon him, but hebristled his neck-hair and snarled (for he was learning fast), and they let him go his way unmolested.
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The emphasis was helped by the speaker's hair, whichbristled on the skirts of his bald head, a plantation of firs to keep the wind from its shining surface, all covered with knobs, like the crust of a plum pie, as if the head had scarcely warehouse-room for the hard facts stored inside.
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