bristling


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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.

bristling

(ˈbrɪslɪŋ)
adj
1.containing stiff hairs
2.vigorous and energetic
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
Translations

bristling

[ˈbrɪslɪŋ]adj
[moustache, beard, eyebrows] →broussailleux/euse
(=energetic) →énergique
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005


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References in classic literature?
At such times, confronted by three sets of savage teeth, the young wolf stopped precipitately, throwing himself back on his haunches, with fore-legs stiff, mouth menacing, and manebristling. This confusion in the front of the moving pack always caused confusion in the rear.
Here the Distressed One and the other duennas raised the veils with which they were covered, and disclosed countenances allbristling with beards, some red, some black, some white, and some grizzled, at which spectacle the duke and duchess made a show of being filled with wonder.
They closed in upon her, snarling and yelping, and she was buried, screaming with agony, beneath thebristling mass of bodies.

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