Word of the Day: Vibrissae

Wednesday, December 18, 2024

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noun

1. (Zoology) Long stiff hairs growing around the mouth or elsewhere on the face of many mammals, used as organs of touch; whiskers.

2. (Ornithology) Coarse bristle-like feathers growing around the gape of certain insectivorous birds that catch insects in flight.

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"Cats use their vibrissae to sense the area around their faces for navigation and for hunting."

"The vibrissae on seals and other pinnipeds are more sensitive than the whiskers of land animals."

"The zookeepers named the walrus with the most prominent vibrissae 'Tom Selleck.'"

Latin, late 17th century

"Vibrissae" is taken directly from the Latin word, meaning "nostril hairs." Many mammals have vibrissae — stiffer, thicker hairs around the face used as sense organs, the way some insects use antennae. They are also called "whiskers." Vibrissae grow from different follicles than regular hairs, and the roots are closely connected with facial nerves, which allow them to deliver sense information about spaces and objects the animal encounters. ...