Vibrissa Definition
vī-brĭsə, və-
vibrissae
noun
vibrissae
Any of the stiff hairs growing in or near the nostrils of certain animals and often serving as organs of touch, as a cat's whiskers.
Webster's New World
Any of the bristlelike feathers growing near the mouth of certain insect-eating birds, as the whippoorwill.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
- sensory hair
- whisker
Other Word Forms of Vibrissa
Noun
Singular:
vibrissa
Plural:
vibrissaeOrigin of Vibrissa
-
From Late Latin vibrissae nostril hairs from vibrāre to vibrate vibrate
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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