gen. A short, stiff, pointed or prickly hair or similar appendage on other animals; the short hairs on the face of men when thickened and stiffened…

In plural. Hair growing on the lower part of the face.

= subbosco, n.

collective singular. transferred. A rough surface or short growth likened to the ‘stubble’ of grain, esp. the short bristly growth on a man's…

The hair that grows on an adult man's face; formerly commonly applied to that on the upper lip, now… plural: usually collective; sometimes…

(esp. of a man) hair that grows on the chin, cheeks, or upper lip; (in extended use) a beard or moustache.

a man's facial hair, esp. a beard.

Chiefly U.S. (south-western). A man's facial hair, spec. a type of small, neat moustache. Chiefly in plural with singular agreement, esp. in form zitz…

(see A. 2b), used attributively in five o'clock shadow (see quot.1937), five-o'clock tea (colloquial shortened a five o'clock).

transferred. A beard or whiskers. jocular.