whisker

Meaning

1. That part of the beard which grows upon the sides of the face, usually of the male, or upon the chin, or upon both.
2. A hair of the beard.
3. One of the long, projecting hairs growing at the sides of the mouth of a cat, or other animal.
4. (colloquial) The (very small) distance between two things.
5. Spreaders from the bows to spread the bowsprit shrouds.
6. A graphic element that shows the maxima and minima in a box plot.
7. One who, or that which, whisks, or moves with a quick, sweeping motion.
8. A small tendril that forms on metal.

Synonyms

moustache

beard

vibrissa

hair

hairsbreadth

hair’s-breadth

sensory hair

bewhisker

fibrous crystal

stache

awn

mustache

fin

moustaches

mustache

mustaches

sideburns

whiskers

tache

Translations

baffo

Schnurrbart

bigode

bigote

bigoti

snor

moustache

mystax

μουστάκι

Backenbart

charmeuses

bacchante

vibrisse

baffi

pelo

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ʍɪskə(ɹ)/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: wisker

In summary

Middle English wisker, whisk (verb) + -er