Bristle

one of the short, stiff, coarse hairs of certain animals, especially hogs, used extensively in making brushes.
anything resembling these hairs.
to stand or rise stiffly, like bristles.
to erect the bristles, as an irritated animal (often followed by up):
The hog bristled up.
to become rigid with anger or irritation:
The man bristled when I asked him to move.
to be thickly set or filled with something suggestive of bristles:
The plain bristled with bayonets. The project bristled with difficulties.
to be visibly roused or stirred (usually followed by up).
to erect like bristles:
The rooster bristled his crest.
to furnish with a bristle or bristles.
to make bristly.
Contemporary Examples

From ISIS Videos to JLaw Nudes, When Is Looking Abetting Evil? Michael Daly September 2, 2014
Busting the Torture Myths Scott Horton April 26, 2009
A True Tough Guy: The Mafia, Gays, and Michael Sam’s Boyfriend Michael Daly May 14, 2014
The Oxford English Dictionary: The Original Crowdsourcer Josh Dzieza April 28, 2013
Death of the Sex Scandal Louise Roug Bokkenheuser September 28, 2010

Historical Examples

The Conflict between Private Monopoly and Good Citizenship John Graham Brooks
Owen Clancy’s Happy Trail Burt L. Standish
True to His Home Hezekiah Butterworth
The Clansman Thomas Dixon
The Cloister and the Hearth Charles Reade

noun
any short stiff hair of an animal or plant
something resembling these hair: toothbrush bristle
verb
when intr, often foll by up. to stand up or cause to stand up like bristles: the angry cat’s fur bristled
(intransitive) sometimes foll by up. to show anger, indignation, etc: she bristled at the suggestion
(intransitive) to be thickly covered or set: the target bristled with arrows
(intransitive) to be in a state of agitation or movement: the office was bristling with activity
(transitive) to provide with a bristle or bristles
n.
v.