Bristle \Bris"tle\, v. i. 1. To rise or stand erect, like bristles. His hair did bristle upon his head. --Sir W. Scott. 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. To show defiance or indignation. {To bristle up}, to show anger or defiance.