whisker
|whis-ker|
🇺🇸
/ˈwɪskər/
🇬🇧
/ˈwɪskə/
having whiskers
Etymology
'whisker' ultimately formed from the verb 'whisk' with the agent/derivative suffix '-er' in early modern English; 'whisk' itself is from Middle English 'wisk' (a small tuft or whisking motion).
'whisk' (Middle English 'wisk') developed into the derivative noun 'whisker' in early modern English to denote a tuft or hair, and this form gave the modern word 'whisker'.
Initially it referred to a tuft or quick whisking motion and then came to denote specifically a facial hair or tactile hair (vibrissa); later specialized senses (e.g., metal 'whiskers') developed.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
one of the long, stiff tactile hairs (vibrissae) growing around the mouth or snout of many mammals, used for sensing.
The cat brushed a whisker against my hand in the dark.
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Noun 2
a hair or group of hairs on a person's face (informally, e.g. a moustache, sideburn or beard hair).
He grew a single whisker on his chin.
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Noun 3
a very small amount or margin; used in the phrase 'by a whisker' to mean narrowly or barely.
They won the race by a whisker.
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Noun 4
a fine filamentous growth or projection (e.g., metal 'whiskers' that form on certain plated metals).
Tin whisker growth on components can cause short circuits.
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Last updated: 2025/09/12 02:12