bristle definition

1. a stiff fiber (coarse hair or filament); natural or synthetic
2. a stiff hair
3. rise up as in fear
• examples: The dog's fur bristled
• examples: It was a sight to make one's hair uprise!
4. have or be thickly covered with or as if with bristles
• examples: bristling leaves
5. react in an offended or angry manner
• examples: He bristled at her suggestion that he should teach her how to use the program