vibrissa
Americannoun
plural
vibrissae-
one of the stiff, bristly hairs growing about the mouth of certain animals, as a whisker of a cat.
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one of the long, slender, bristlelike feathers growing along the side of the mouth in many birds.
noun
-
any of the bristle-like sensitive hairs on the face of many mammals; a whisker
-
any of the specialized bristle-like feathers around the beak in certain insectivorous birds
plural
vibrissae-
Any of the long, stiff, bristlelike hairs that project from the snout or brow of most mammals, as the whiskers of a cat or rat. Vibrissae often serve as tactile organs, especially in nocturnal animals and marine mammals such as seals and manatees.
-
Any of several long modified feathers that grow along the sides of the beak of certain birds and help trap insects caught in flight.
Other Word Forms
- vibrissal adjective
Etymology
Origin of vibrissa
First recorded 1685–95; from Late Latin, derivative of Latin vibrāre “to shake”
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Known formally as a vibrissa, a whisker is longer and thicker than normal cat hair.
From National Geographic • Jan. 2, 2024
All the contours, joints, vibrissa, hairs and feelers are there.
From Time Magazine Archive
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
