Bristle (br&ibreve_;ss'l), n. [OE. bristel, brustel, AS. bristl, byrst; akin to D. borstel, OHG. burst, G. borste, Icel. burst, Sw. borst, and to Skr. bh&rsdot_;shti edge, point, and prob, L. fastigium extremity, Gr. 'aflaston stern of a ship, and E. brush, burr, perh. to brad. √96.] 1. A short, stiff, coarse hair, as on the back of swine.
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2. (Bot.) A stiff, sharp, roundish hair. Gray.
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Bristle, v. i. 1. To rise or stand erect, like bristles.
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His hair did bristle upon his head. Sir W. Scott.
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2. To appear as if covered with bristles; to have standing, thick and erect, like bristles.
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The hill of La Haye Sainte bristling with ten thousand bayonets. Thackeray.
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Ports bristling with thousands of masts. Macaulay.
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3. To show defiance or indignation.
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To bristle up, to show anger or defiance.
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