Bristle /(brĭs"s'l)/

1. A short, stiff, coarse hair, as on the back of swine.
2. A stiff, sharp, roundish hair. (Bot.)

imp. & p. p. Bristled; p. pr. & vb. n. Bristling

1. To erect the bristles of; to cause to stand up, as the bristles of an angry hog; -- sometimes with up.

   Now for the bare-picked bone of majesty Doth dogged war bristle his angry crest.

   Boy, bristle thy courage up.

2. To fix a bristle to; as, to bristle a thread.

1. To rise or stand erect, like bristles.

   His hair did bristle upon his head.

2. To appear as if covered with bristles; to have standing, thick and erect, like bristles.

   The hill of La Haye Sainte bristling with ten thousand bayonets.

   Ports bristling with thousands of masts.

3. To show defiance or indignation.