01 n. The collection or mass of filaments growing from the skin of an animal, and forming a covering for a part of the head or for any part or th…
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1.
The collection or mass of filaments growing from the skin of an animal, and forming a covering for a part of the head or for any part or the whole of the body.
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3.
Hair (human or animal) used for various purposes; as, hair for stuffing cushions.
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4.
A slender outgrowth from the chitinous cuticle of insects, spiders, crustaceans, and other invertebrates. Such hairs are totally unlike those of vertebrates in structure, composition, and mode of growth.(Zool.)
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5.
An outgrowth of the epidermis, consisting of one or of several cells, whether pointed, hooked, knobbed, or stellated. Internal hairs occur in the flower stalk of the yellow frog lily (Nuphar).(Bot.)
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6.
A spring device used in a hair-trigger firearm.
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7.
A haircloth.[Obs.]
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8.
Any very small distance, or degree; a hairbreadth.
Phrases & compounds
Against the hair —
in a rough and disagreeable manner; against the grain.
Hair bracket —
a molding which comes in at the back of, or runs aft from, the figurehead.
Hair cells —
cells with hairlike processes in the sensory epithelium of certain parts of the internal ear.
Hair compass —
a compass or divider capable of delicate adjustment by means of a screw.
Hair glove —
a glove of horsehair for rubbing the skin.
Hair lace —
a netted fillet for tying up the hair of the head.
Hair line —
a line made of hair; a very slender line.
Hair moth —
any moth which destroys goods made of hair, esp. Tinea biselliella.
Hair pencil —
a brush or pencil made of fine hair, for painting; -- generally called by the name of the hair used; as, a camel's hair pencil, a sable's hair pencil, etc.
Hair plate —
an iron plate forming the back of the hearth of a bloomery fire.
Hair powder —
a white perfumed powder, as of flour or starch, formerly much used for sprinkling on the hair of the head, or on wigs.
Hair seal —
any one of several species of eared seals which do not produce fur; a sea lion.
Hair seating —
haircloth for seats of chairs, etc.
Hair shirt —
a shirt, or a band for the loins, made of horsehair, and worn as a penance.
Hair sieve —
a strainer with a haircloth bottom.
Hair snake —
See Gordius.
Hair space —
the thinnest metal space used in lines of type.
Hair stroke —
a delicate stroke in writing.
Hair trigger —
a trigger so constructed as to discharge a firearm by a very slight pressure, as by the touch of a hair.
Not worth a hair —
of no value.
To a hair —
with the nicest distinction.
To split hairs —
to make distinctions of useless nicety.