noun

1. any short, stiff, prickly hair of an animal or plant
2. 1. any of the hairs of a hog or of some other animals, used for brushes
   2. such a hair, or an artificial hair like it, in a brush

Etymology: ME bristel, metathetic < OE byrst; akin to Ger borste, bristles < IE *bhsti- < base *bhar-, point, bristle

intransitive verb bristled -·tled, bristling -·tling

1. to become stiff and erect, like bristles
2. to have the bristles become erect, as in fear or irritation
3. to show strong anger, irritation, outrage, etc. as by a stiffening of the body
4. to be thickly covered (with) the battlefield bristled with guns

transitive verb

1. to cause to stand up like bristles
2. to put bristles on or in
3. to make bristly