hair is one of the most integral elements of an individual, often serving as both crowning glory and a symbol of beauty. Additionally, its presence has inspired numerous expressions and idioms, such as getting into someone’s hair or splitting hairs about making distinctions among individuals.
Definition
OK, usually cylindrical, keratinous filaments grow from the epidermis of some mammals and plants. Composed of the protein keratin and pigment melanin (which determines hair color), they often take the shape of hair shafts arranged radially from an epidermal mass and extend out from it as hairy shafts with sharp projections like porcupines’ quills or hedgehog quills, tactile organs such as whiskers of many nocturnal mammals’ whiskers or form extended surfaces covering over their surface area – these filaments may either form one continuous length covering over an entire surface area; this phenomenon is commonly known as trichome.
Hairs may be styled into locks or clipped into a wig for coverage; colored and styled for identification or distinction purposes; often colored to enhance style; often dyed and highlighted – hair can even serve to identify individuals through its color or style! Trichology is the study of hair and its diseases. Related words include hairs, Fuzz, furry, pelt, and haircloth – please consult their dictionary entries for further information.
Synonyms
hair has many associated terms and synonyms in its vocabulary, such as Fuzz, haircloth, and whiskers. While these related words may have similar or identical meanings, there may also be various facets to their interpretation that vary slightly; click a comment below to view its synonym list.
Hairs are keratinous filaments that emerge from the skin of certain mammals to form coats or sensory organs. Hairs contain melanin pigment, which determines their colors.
Getting someone’s hair up means to irritate or worry them; letting yours down means being unrestrained; split hairs means making irrelevant distinctions or debating trivial matters; losing by a hair’s breadth is to miss something; to be in a bind is also an indication of trouble; the American Heritage Dictionary of English Language Fifth Edition published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company reserves all rights for its Fifth Edition dictionary, and this organization reserves all its rights.
Meaning
hair has long been the subject of awe and appreciation, often considered our crowning glory. Therefore, its inclusion is commonplace in many idioms and expressions related to physical appearance or emotions. For instance, the phrase by a hair’s breadth refers to fineness, while getting your hair up or making your hair stand on end conveys the idea that emotions can influence our locks.
Hairy and hide are synonymous terms, both referring to long, thick locks of hair. In terms of sound, their relationship is apparent as one is pronounced // while another //. Additional terms that reference hair include bristle, pelt, locks, and fur.
Origin
The term “hair” has an extensive and intriguing history. Historically, it has been used to denote anything from an extra flair in cooking or styling one’s hair or outfit to something that adds extra spice. Furthermore, slang uses of “hair” may include those who exhibit excessive self-assurance or arrogance.
Its origin can be traced to Old English har or heor (source of Dutch, German, and French haire) or Proto-Germanic heran (source of many forms of “hair” in other languages), both derived from Old English har (hence Dutch, German and French haire) or Proto-Germanic heran. Hair is closely associated with words like hide and bristle and root expressions, a hair’s breadth, or by a hairsbreadth. Additionally, it is close to roots meaning hide/bristle, and plants with thorns of plants and mammals that make up fur. There is also the homeopathic expression Hair of Dog that Bit You and let your hair down as synonyms for Fuzz or haircloth.
