1. （毛发）粗硬的
Bristly hair is thick and rough.
2. （下巴）多胡茬儿的，多硬毛的
If a man's chin is bristly, it is covered with bristles because he has not shaved recently.
1. having or covered with protective barbs or quills or spines or thorns or setae etc.
e.g. a horse with a short bristly mane
bristly shrubs
burred fruits
setaceous whiskers
Synonym: barbedbarbellatebriarybrierybristledburredburrypricklysetosesetaceousspinythorny
2. very irritable
e.g. bristly exchanges between the White House and the press
he became prickly and spiteful
witty and waspish about his colleagues