Definition of whisker

The word "whisker" derives from the Old English word "hwhiscere," which meant "husk" or "chaff." The word evolved to become "hwiscras" in Middle English, which referred to a tool used for sifting flour or other grains. In the late 14th century, the word began to be used in a new way to describe the stiff hairs around the muzzles of certain animals, particularly cats and horses. This usage of "whisker" is derived from the fact that the hairs were believed to resemble the tines of an old-fashioned whisk used for mixing ingredients. In cats, whiskers also play a functional role in navigating and hunting, as they help the animal sense its surroundings and the position of nearby objects. This has led some people to jokingly refer to a cat's whiskers as "cat's eyebrows" or "feelerustaches." In summary, the word "whisker" has its origins in the Middle English word "hwiscras," which originally referred to a tool for sifting grains, but eventually came to describe the stiff hairs around the muzzles of certain animals, due to their resemblance to the tines of a whisk.