different between hairy vs prickly

English

Etymology

From Middle English hery, heeri, hary, equivalent to hair +? -y. Compare Saterland Frisian hierich (“hairy”), West Frisian hierrich (“hairy”), Dutch harig (“hairy”), German Low German harig (“hairy”), German haarig (“hairy”), Swedish hårig (“hairy”), Icelandic hárugur (“hairy”). Compare also Old English h?riht (“hairy”) and ?eh?re (“hairy”).

The sense "terrifying, scary" possibly results from a blend of hair-raising and scary.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?h???i/
• Rhymes: -???i

Adjective

hairy (comparative hairier, superlative hairiest)

1. Of a person, having a lot of hair on the body.

   a hairy man

2. Of an animal, having a lot of fur.

   hairy mammoth

3. Of a body part other than the head, having hair growing from it.

   She is a great admirer of hairy chests.

4. (informal) Difficult, complex, intricate, or intimidating.

   It’s a hairy problem, and will probably take several weeks to sort out.

5. (informal) Causing anxiety or fright; terrifying, scary.

Synonyms

• (person): furry, hairful, hirsute
• (animal): furry
• (body part): furry, hirsute

Antonyms

• bald
• hairless

Derived terms

• hairily
• hairiness

Translations

See also

• dasypygal

Anagrams

• Yahir

English

Etymology

prickle +? -y

Pronunciation

Adjective

prickly (comparative pricklier, superlative prickliest)

1. Covered with sharp points.

   The prickly pear is a cactus; you have to peel it before eating it to remove the spines and the tough skin.

2. Easily irritated.

   He has a prickly personality. He doesn't get along with people because he is easily set off.

3. Difficult; complicated; (figuratively) hairy or thorny.

   It was a prickly situation.

Synonyms

• (covered with sharp points): thorny, spiny

Derived terms

Translations

See also

• prick

Adverb

prickly (comparative more prickly, superlative most prickly)

1. In a prickly manner.
   • 2016, David Thomson, Biggest lesson of the 2016 Oscars? The Academy should be scrapped (in The Guardian, 3 March 2016)[1]

     Striding across stage in his bright white jacket, his voice soaring and cracking – like Charlie Parker’s – he was nervous but prickly eloquent, caustic yet encouraging.

Noun

prickly (plural pricklies)

1. (colloquial) Something that gives a pricking sensation; a sharp object.
   • 2002, William A. Luckey, Long Ride to Nowhere (page 75)

     Below, way out on the flat, Blue had seen a light green that could be graze but up here was nothing 'cept all kinds of prickly bushes, and too many of them. Ground-spreading pricklies that reached out to jump at a horse's belly […]

   • 2016, Richard J. Sklba, Joseph Juknialis, Easter Fire: Fire Starters for the Easter Weekday Homily (page 113)

     Dad, I need to ride on your shoulders because the pricklies hurt my feet.