bristled

bris·tle  (brsl)

n.

1. A stiff hair.

2. A stiff hairlike structure: the bristles of a wire brush.

v. bris·tled, bris·tling, bris·tles

v.intr.

1. To stand stiffly on end like bristles: The hair on the dog's neck bristled.

2. To raise the bristles: The cat bristled at the sight of the large dog.

3. To react in an angry or offended manner: The author bristled at the suggestion of plagiarism.

4. To be covered or thick with or as if with bristles: The path bristled with thorns.

v.tr.

1. To cause to stand erect like bristles; stiffen.

2. To furnish or supply with bristles.

3. To make bristly; ruffle.

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[Middle English bristel, probably from Old English *byrstel, from byrst, bristle.]

Thesaurus

Adj.

1.

bristled - having or covered with protective barbs or quills or spines or thorns or setae etc.; "a horse with a short bristly mane"; "bristly shrubs"; "burred fruits"; "setaceous whiskers" barbellate, briary, briery, setaceous, setose, burred, burry, prickly, barbed, spiny, thorny, bristly armed - (used of plants and animals) furnished with bristles and thorns