vibrissa

vibrissa Definition

vi·brissa (vī bris′ə)

noun pl. -·sae-ē

any of the stiff hairs growing in or near the nostrils of certain animals and often serving as organs of touch, as a cat's whiskers
any of the bristlelike feathers growing near the mouth of certain insect-eating birds, as the whippoorwill

Etymology: ModL < L vibrissae, pl., akin to vibrare, to vibrate

vibrissa Usage Examples

Adjective modifier

mystacial: Its ears are clearly visible as are the very long mystacial vibrissae on either side of its nose.

Browse dictionary entries near vibrissa