bris·tle / ˈbrisəl/ • n. (usu. bristles) a short stiff hair, typically one of those on an animal's skin, a man's face, or a plant. ∎  a stiff animal hair, or a man-made substitute, used to make a brush: a toothbrush with nylon bristles the heads are made with natural bristle. • v. [intr.] 1. (of hair or fur) stand upright away from the skin, esp. in anger or fear: the hair on the back of his neck bristled. ∎  make one's hair or fur stand on end: the cat bristled in annoyance. ∎  react angrily or defensively, as by drawing oneself up: she bristled at his rudeness.2. (bristle with) be covered with or abundant in: the roof bristled with antennas.

bristle sb. XIII. ME. brüstel, bristel, brestel, pointing to OE. *brystel, *byrstel, corr. to OS. *brustil, (M)Du. borstel, f. the base repr. by OE. byrst bristle, OHG. burst (G. borste), ON. burst, bursti.