abristleadj.
/əˈbrɪsl/, U.S. /əˈbrɪs(ə)l/ In predicative use: (a) presenting a rough or prickly aspect; (of a hair) standing on end; (b) bristling with.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > hair > types of hair > [adjective] > coarse, bristling
cursed1565
strong1576
stubby1609
setose1661
setaceous1664
bristling1760
setous1822
wire hair1845
stubbly1849
abristle1891
toothbrushy1904
1828 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. 24 279 Bringing her to bay at the hedge-root, all ablaze and abristle.
1858 Dublin Univ. Mag. Apr. 416/1 His native Scottish thistle, all abristle with burs and spikes.
1891 Cornhill Mag. Apr. 352 His hair all abristle.
1916 E. Pound Lustra 97 A-bristle with antennae to feel roads.
1927 Chambers's Jrnl. May 345/2 Stripes sprang to his feet with a growl, every hair abristle.
1963 Mrs. L. B. Johnson White House Diary 24 Dec. (1970) 20 The place is..abristle with Secret Service men.
2005 Independent (Nexis) 11 Mar. 30 The women lie flat on narrow beds, vaginal hairs abristle.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2009; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
<
adj.1828