bristle

C2+ Topic:Emotions & Feelings

US /ˈbrɪsəl/ UK /ˈbrɪsəl/ See IPA manual

noun verb

Meanings

1

noun
a short stiff hair; to react with sudden anger or indignation

He bristled at the suggestion that he had cheated.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a short stiff hair; to... setahair stubble barb prickle

Word family

Forms bristlingly

Derived forms bristlybristling

Etymology

From Middle English bristel, brustel, a diminutive of Old English byrst ('bristle'), from Proto-Germanic *burstiz, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰerst- ('point, bristle').

byrst Old English *burstiz Proto-Germanic *bʰers- Proto-Indo-European

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Emotions & Feelings

# bristle

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun, verb
**IPA (US):** ˈbrɪsəl
**IPA (UK):** ˈbrɪsəl

## Meanings
1. a short stiff hair; to react with sudden anger or indignation

## Examples
- He bristled at the suggestion that he had cheated.

## Synonyms
- seta
- hair
- stubble
- barb
- prickle

## Derived Forms
- bristly
- bristling

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: byrst
- Root: *burstiz
- Root: *bʰers-

## Etymology
From Middle English bristel, brustel, a diminutive of Old English byrst ('bristle'), from Proto-Germanic *burstiz, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰerst- ('point, bristle').

## AI Etymology
Bristle is a noun and verb meaning "a short stiff hair; to react with sudden anger or indignation". Historically, it is from Middle English bristel, brustel, a diminutive of Old English byrst ('bristle'), from Proto-Germanic *burstiz, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰerst- ('point, bristle'). The visible construction is part of the etymology: bristle is not just an unanalyzed simple word. The historical chain links Old English byrst, Proto-Germanic *burstiz, and Proto-Indo-European *bʰers-. Close English family members include bristly, and bristling.

## Topics
- Emotions & Feelings

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bristle

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