Definition of the word bristle

The origin of the word "bristle" can be traced back to the Old English word "brisclī̄an", meaning "be stiff or erect like a bristle". The Old English word derived from the Proto-Germanic root "bris-" meaning "stiff". The meaning of the word "brisclī̄an" evolved over time, and in Middle English, it came to mean both "to stand on end like the bristles on a boar's back" and "to be angry or irritated". The modern usage of the word "bristle" primarily refers to stiff or coarse hairs found on certain animals, such as a badger or a boar, as well as brushes or brooms with similar stiff hairs. The word retains some of its historical roots in expressions like "to bristle with anger" or "a bristling defense".