Definition of Bristly

Adjective: bristly (bristlier,bristliest) bris-(u-)lee

Very irritable
"bristly exchanges between the White House and the press";
- prickly, splenetic, waspish
Having or covered with protective barbs or quills or spines or thorns or setae etc.
"a horse with a short bristly mane"; "bristly shrubs";
- barbed, barbellate, briary, briery, bristled, burred, burry, prickly, setose, setaceous, spiny, thorny