Definition of "vibrissa" [vi•bris•sa]

• Any of the long stiff hairs that project from the snout or brow of most mammals, as the whiskers of a cat. (noun)
• One of several long modified feathers that grow along the gape of the mouth of insect-eating birds. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "Each facial vibrissa is linked with 50 to 200 nerve fibers."
• "On its way to the food-box, no matter whether the box be slightly or strikingly different from its companion box, the dancer may go by way of the wrong box, may take a few turns, cut some figure-eights, or even spin like a top for seconds almost within vibrissa-reach of the food-box, and all this even though it be very hungry."
• "Accents and grinding stones is hand carved Pink Sapphire, Emerald, subtly hidden shell, from a marine's dazzling diamond vibrissa hug."