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hairbreadth. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
hairbreadth, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
hairbreadth in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
hairbreadth you have here. The definition of the word
hairbreadth will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
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English
Etymology
hair + breadth
Pronunciation
Noun
hairbreadth (plural hairbreadths)
- Alternative form of hair's breadth: the width of a hair, a very short distance or a very small amount.
1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volumes (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: A Millar, , →OCLC:In short, these kind of hairbreadth missings of happiness look like the insults of Fortune, who may be considered as thus playing tricks with us, and wantonly diverting herself at our expense.
1799, Charles Brockden Brown, Edgar Huntly:This surely was a day destined to be signalized by hairbreadth escapes.
1856, Wilkie Collins, After Dark:Measure Maddalena, and measure Minerva, and from forehead to chin, you won't find a hairbreadth of difference between them.
1876, Louisa May Alcott, Rose in Bloom:[…] for the young hero rioted by day, howled by night, ravaged the house from top to bottom, and kept his guardians in a series of panics by his hairbreadth escapes.