Bristly describes something covered with short, stiff hairs or fibers that stick out and feel rough or prickly to touch. A dog's fur might be soft and silky, but a wire-haired terrier has a bristly coat that feels coarse when you pet it. A man's face becomes bristly with stubble a day or two after shaving. A scrub brush has bristly fibers designed to scrub away dirt.

Pigs have bristles on their backs, and old-fashioned brushes were often made from pig bristles. When something is bristly, it's covered with these tough little hairs that might even poke you slightly.

The word can also describe a person's attitude or manner. If your older brother responds to a question in a bristly way, he's being sharp and irritable, almost like he's covered in prickles. Someone might become bristly when they feel criticized or annoyed. When you notice someone getting bristly in conversation, you're seeing them put up their defenses and become prickly and unfriendly rather than warm and open.