Hair trigger

Hair Hair (h[^a]r), n. [OE. her, heer, h[ae]r, AS. h[=ae]r; akin to OFries. h[=e]r, D. & G. haar, OHG. & Icel. h[=a]r, Dan. haar, Sw. h[*a]r; cf. Lith. kasa.] 1. The collection or mass of filaments growing from the skin of an animal, and forming a covering for a part of the head or for any part or the whole of the body. [1913 Webster]

2. One the above-mentioned filaments, consisting, in vertebrate animals, of a long, tubular part which is free and flexible, and a bulbous root imbedded in the skin. [1913 Webster]

Then read he me how Sampson lost his hairs. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

And draweth new delights with hoary hairs. --Spenser. [1913 Webster]

3. Hair (human or animal) used for various purposes; as, hair for stuffing cushions. [1913 Webster]

4. (Zo["o]l.) A slender outgrowth from the chitinous cuticle of insects, spiders, crustaceans, and other invertebrates. Such hairs are totally unlike those of vertebrates in structure, composition, and mode of growth. [1913 Webster]

5. (Bot.) An outgrowth of the epidermis, consisting of one or of several cells, whether pointed, hooked, knobbed, or stellated. Internal hairs occur in the flower stalk of the yellow frog lily ({Nuphar}). [1913 Webster]

6. A spring device used in a hair-trigger firearm. [1913 Webster]

7. A haircloth. [Obs.] --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

8. Any very small distance, or degree; a hairbreadth. [1913 Webster]

Note: Hairs is often used adjectively or in combination; as, hairbrush or hair brush, hair dye, hair oil, hairpin, hair powder, a brush, a dye, etc., for the hair. [1913 Webster]

{Against the hair}, in a rough and disagreeable manner; against the grain. [Obs.] ``You go against the hair of your professions.'' --Shak.

{Hair bracket} (Ship Carp.), a molding which comes in at the back of, or runs aft from, the figurehead.

{Hair cells} (Anat.), cells with hairlike processes in the sensory epithelium of certain parts of the internal ear.

{Hair compass}, {Hair divider}, a compass or divider capable of delicate adjustment by means of a screw.

{Hair glove}, a glove of horsehair for rubbing the skin.

{Hair lace}, a netted fillet for tying up the hair of the head. --Swift.

{Hair line}, a line made of hair; a very slender line.

{Hair moth} (Zo["o]l.), any moth which destroys goods made of hair, esp. {Tinea biselliella}.

{Hair pencil}, a brush or pencil made of fine hair, for painting; -- generally called by the name of the hair used; as, a camel's hair pencil, a sable's hair pencil, etc.

{Hair plate}, an iron plate forming the back of the hearth of a bloomery fire.

{Hair powder}, a white perfumed powder, as of flour or starch, formerly much used for sprinkling on the hair of the head, or on wigs.

{Hair seal} (Zo["o]l.), any one of several species of eared seals which do not produce fur; a sea lion.

{Hair seating}, haircloth for seats of chairs, etc.

{Hair shirt}, a shirt, or a band for the loins, made of horsehair, and worn as a penance.

{Hair sieve}, a strainer with a haircloth bottom.

{Hair snake}. See {Gordius}.

{Hair space} (Printing), the thinnest metal space used in lines of type.

{Hair stroke}, a delicate stroke in writing.

{Hair trigger}, a trigger so constructed as to discharge a firearm by a very slight pressure, as by the touch of a hair. --Farrow.

{Not worth a hair}, of no value.

{To a hair}, with the nicest distinction.

{To split hairs}, to make distinctions of useless nicety. [1913 Webster]