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Added 9 October 2026

hairy

/ˈhɛə.ɹi/ adjective

In Latin: pilōsus, villōsus Wiktionary

adjective Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about hairy at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Having or covered with hair.
Jacob was a hairy man
Hazardous and frightening.
hairy moments in the mountains

Origin

From Middle English hery, heeri, hary, equivalent to hair + -y. Compare Saterland Frisian hierich (“hairy”), West Frisian hierrich (“hairy”), Dutch harig (“hairy”), German Low German harig (“hairy”), German haarig (“hairy”), Swedish hårig (“hairy”), Icelandic hárugur (“hairy”). Compare also Old English hǣriht (“hairy”) and ġehǣre (“hairy”). The sense "terrifying, scary" possibly results from a blend of hair-raising and scary.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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