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briolette
briquette
bris
Brisbane
brisk
brisken
brisket
brisling
bristle
bristlebird
bristlecone pine
bristletail
bristling
bristly
Bristol
Bristol board
Bristol Channel
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bristle

bris·tle [ bríss'l ]


noun  (plural bris·tles)
Definition:
 
1. stiff hair: a short stiff hair on an animal or plant, or a mass of short stiff hairs growing, especially on a hog's back or a man's face

2. hair on brush: the short stiff natural or synthetic hair on a brush



verb  (past and past participle bris·tled, present participle bris·tling, 3rd person present singular bris·tles)
Definition:
 
1. transitive and intransitive verb have or set hair on end: to make the hair or fur stand upright in response to fear or anger, or to show such a response

2. intransitive verb become offended: to react somewhat angrily or indignantly to somebody or something
He bristled at the suggestion.

3. intransitive verb abound: to have an abundance of something
a mighty battleship bristling with guns

4. transitive verb give something bristles: to provide or cover something with bristles

[13th century. < Old English byrst "bristle"]
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