whisker
UK: ˈwɪskə | US: ˈwɪskər
n. a long, stiff hair growing near the mouth or elsewhere on the face of many mammals, such as cats or mice
n. (informal) a very small distance or amount (e.g., "won by a whisker")
whisker = whisk<to sweep or brush quickly> + er<noun suffix indicating agent or object>
- whisk<to sweep or brush quickly>: From Middle English wisk, meaning "a quick sweeping motion," likely of Scandinavian origin (cf. Old Norse visk "wisp of hay").
- er<noun suffix>: A common English suffix denoting someone or something that performs an action (e.g., "runner," "baker").
Etymology Origin:
The word "whisker" originally referred to something that "whisks" or moves quickly, akin to the motion of brushing or sweeping. Over time, it came to describe the stiff facial hairs of animals, likely due to their resemblance to small brushes or their twitching movement. The informal sense of "a tiny margin" (e.g., "won by a whisker") metaphorically extends from the slimness of these hairs.
The cat’s whiskers twitched as it sniffed the air.
He missed the target by a whisker.
Scientists study whiskers to understand animal behavior.
The old sailor’s whiskers were long and white.
She trimmed her dog’s whiskers carefully for the show.