Vibrissa

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Vibrissa \Vi*bris"sa\, n.; pl. {Vibrissae}. [L. vibrissae, pl.,
     the hairs in the nostrils of man, fr. vibrare to vibrate; --
     so called because touching them tickles a person, and causes
     him to shake his head.]
     1. (Anat.) One of the specialized or tactile hairs which grow
        about the nostrils, or on other parts of the face, in many


        animals, as the so-called whiskers of the cat, and the
        hairs of the nostrils of man.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Zool.) The bristlelike feathers near the mouth of many
        birds.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  vibrissa
       n : a long stiff hair growing from the snout or brow of most
           mammals as e.g. a cat [syn: {whisker}, {sensory hair}]
       [also: {vibrissae} (pl)]