bristlyadj.
/ˈbrɪsli/, U.S. /ˈbrɪsli/ 1.
a. Set with bristles or short stiff hairs; setose.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > biology > physical aspects or shapes > villosity or ciliation > [adverb] > bristle
bristly1591
hispidly1870
the world > life > biology > physical aspects or shapes > villosity or ciliation > [adjective] > hairiness > bristly
bristleda1300
bristly1591
hispid1647
setigerous1656
setose1661
awny1786
setiform1816
setous1822
setulose1826
setiferous1828
setulous1852
hispidulous1854
setiparous1870
setuliform1879
setal1891
setaceous-
1591 R. Percyvall Bibliotheca Hispanica Dict. at Erizado Rough, bristly.
1626 F. Bacon Sylua Syluarum §781 The leaves..are somewhat bristly.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics ii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 74 The Mastful Beech the bristly Chestnut bears.
1718 A. Pope tr. Homer Iliad IV. xvi. 994 The roaming Lyon meets a bristly Boar.
1870 J. D. Hooker Student's Flora Brit. Islands 15 Capsule globose, sessile, bristly.
b. figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > anger > [adjective]
irrec825
gramec893
wemodc897
wrothc950
bolghenc1000
gramelyc1000
hotOE
on fireOE
brathc1175
moodyc1175
to-bollenc1175
wrethfulc1175
wraw?c1225
agrameda1300
wrathfula1300
agremedc1300
hastivec1300
irousa1340
wretheda1340
aniredc1350
felonc1374
angryc1380
upreareda1382
jealous1382
crousea1400
grieveda1400
irefula1400
mada1400
teena1400
wraweda1400
wretthy14..
angryc1405
errevousa1420
wrothy1422
angereda1425
passionatec1425
fumous1430
tangylc1440
heavy1452
fire angry1490
wrothsomea1529
angerful?1533
wrothful?1534
wrath1535
provoked1538
warm1547
vibrant1575
chauffe1582
fuming1582
enfeloned1596
incensed1597
choleric1598
inflameda1600
raiseda1600
exasperate1601
angried1609
exasperated1611
dispassionate1635
bristlinga1639
peltish1648
sultry1671
on (also upon) the high ropes (also rope)1672
nangry1681
ugly1687
sorea1694
glimflashy1699
enraged1732
spunky1809
cholerous1822
kwaai1827
wrathy1828
angersome1834
outraged1836
irate1838
vex1843
raring1845
waxy1853
stiff1856
scotty1867
bristly1872
hot under the collar1879
black angry1894
spitfire1894
passionful1901
ignorant1913
hairy1914
snaky1919
steamed1923
uptight1934
broigus1937
lemony1941
ripped1941
pissed1943
crooked1945
teed off1955
ticked off1959
ripe1966
torqued1967
bummed1970
1872 Daily News 25 July An intelligent and acceptable Republic—not that fierce and chafing thing made up of bristly laws.
1872 Globe 5 Aug. That kind of bristly temper which is always on the look-out for causes of offence.
2. Of the nature of or like bristles.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > shape > unevenness > projection or prominence > sharp unevenness > [adjective] > having (a) sharp projection(s) > having points like prickles or bristles > of the nature of bristles
bristly1593
1593 W. Shakespeare Venus & Adonis sig. Eij On his bow-backe, he hath a battell set, Of brisly pikes. View more context for this quotation
a1657 G. Daniel Poems (1878) II. 65 If I Have bristlie haire.
1735 W. Somervile Chace ii. 58 Rough bristly Stubbles.
1857 W. Collins Dead Secret I. iii. i. 143 A ring of bristly iron-grey hair projected like a collar.
3. Thickly set with sharp or defiant points.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > shape > unevenness > projection or prominence > sharp unevenness > [adjective] > having (a) sharp projection(s) > covered with projecting points
bristling1597
horrent1667
bristled1676
bristly1864
1864 T. Carlyle Hist. Friedrich II of Prussia IV. xvi. ii. 268 The Chevalier..scans a little the frowning buttresses, bristly with guns.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1888; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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adj.1591