Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Bristle \Bris"tle\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Bristled}; p. pr. & vb.
   n. {Bristling}.]
   1. To erect the bristles of; to cause to stand up, as the
      bristles of an angry hog; -- sometimes with up.

            Now for the bare-picked bone of majesty Doth dogged
            war bristle his angry crest.          --Shak.

            Boy, bristle thy courage up.          --Shak.

   2. To fix a bristle to; as, to bristle a thread.