hairbreadth

[ hair-bredth, -bretth ]
See synonyms for hairbreadth on Thesaurus.com
noun, adjective

Origin of hairbreadth

1
1400–50; late Middle English heere brede;see hair, breadth

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use hairbreadth in a sentence

  • Split it as you like into hairbreadths and atoms, it is still fundamentally and essentially unaltered.

    The Disowned, Complete | Edward Bulwer-Lytton
  • Perhaps he knew it, but she was able to speak now; he should not think that he had gained a hairbreadths advantage.

    A Lady of Rome | F. Marion Crawford
  • Gently, and with the greatest care, I depressed the lens a few hairbreadths.

    The Diamond Lens | Fitz-James O'brien