BRISTLE (3)

Bris″tle, v. i. 1. 1. To rise or stand erect, like bristles.
His hair did bristle upon his head. Sir W. Scott. 2. 2. To appear as if covered with bristles; to have standing, thick and erect, like bristles.
The hill of La Haye Sainte bristling with ten thousand bayonets. Thackeray. Ports bristling with thousands of masts. Macaulay. 3. 3. To show defiance or indignation.
To bristle up, to show anger or defiance.