whisker
WIS-ker
/ˈwɪskər/
One of the long, stiff hairs growing on the face of a cat or other mammal, used as a sensory organ.
In humans, whiskers refers informally to facial hair or a beard. Idiomatically, 'by a whisker' means by a very small margin.
The story behind the word. The word whisker comes from the Middle English 'wisk', which referred to a small broom or brush used for sweeping. Because the stiff hairs on a cat's face resembled the bristles of a tiny broom, people began calling them whiskers in the late 15th century.
Word relationships
- vibrissa: Vibrissa is the technical, anatomical term for a whisker, used primarily in scientific and veterinary contexts.
- bristle: A bristle is a short, stiff hair on an animal or brush, lacking the specialized sensory function of a whisker.
Commonly confused with
- whisper: A whisper is a soft, quiet spoken voice, whereas a whisker is a sensory hair on an animal's face.
Word family
- whiskered (adjective): Having whiskers or facial hair.
- whiskers (noun): Plural form of whisker.
Collocations
- twitch a whisker
- by a whisker
- stiff whiskers
- cat's whiskers
Idioms & expressions
- by a whisker
- the cat's whiskers
Example sentences
- "He had a whisker that was like a brush." A classic literary description of a character's facial features.
- "A cat uses each whisker on its face to determine if a gap is wide enough for its body to pass through." Explaining how cats navigate tight spaces using their anatomy.
Memory hook
Think of a cat using its whiskers to 'whisk' away dust as it explores tight corners. Whisker = Whisking sensor.
When not to use
Do not use whisker to describe soft, fine downy hair or the feathers of a bird.
Fun facts
- Cats have whiskers not only on their cheeks, but also above their eyes, on their chin, and on the back of their front legs.
- A cat's whiskers are so sensitive they can detect subtle changes in air currents, helping them hunt in total darkness.
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