Against the hair

Hair \Hair\ (h[^a]r), n. [OE. her, heer, h[ae]r, AS. h[=ae]r;
   akin to OFries. h[=e]r, D. & G. haar, OHG. & Icel. h[=a]r,
   Dan. haar, Sw. h[*a]r; cf. Lith. kasa.]
   1. The collection or mass of filaments growing from the skin
      of an animal, and forming a covering for a part of the
      head or for any part or the whole of the body.
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   2. One the above-mentioned filaments, consisting, in
      vertebrate animals, of a long, tubular part which is free
      and flexible, and a bulbous root imbedded in the skin.
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            Then read he me how Sampson lost his hairs.
                                                  --Chaucer.
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            And draweth new delights with hoary hairs.
                                                  --Spenser.
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   3. Hair (human or animal) used for various purposes; as, hair
      for stuffing cushions.
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   4. (Zool.) A slender outgrowth from the chitinous cuticle of
      insects, spiders, crustaceans, and other invertebrates.
      Such hairs are totally unlike those of vertebrates in
      structure, composition, and mode of growth.
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   5. (Bot.) An outgrowth of the epidermis, consisting of one or
      of several cells, whether pointed, hooked, knobbed, or
      stellated. Internal hairs occur in the flower stalk of the
      yellow frog lily ({Nuphar}).
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   6. A spring device used in a hair-trigger firearm.
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   7. A haircloth. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
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   8. Any very small distance, or degree; a hairbreadth.
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   Note: Hairs is often used adjectively or in combination; as,
         hairbrush or hair brush, hair dye, hair oil, hairpin,
         hair powder, a brush, a dye, etc., for the hair.
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   {Against the hair}, in a rough and disagreeable manner;
      against the grain. [Obs.] "You go against the hair of your
      professions." --Shak.

   {Hair bracket} (Ship Carp.), a molding which comes in at the
      back of, or runs aft from, the figurehead.

   {Hair cells} (Anat.), cells with hairlike processes in the
      sensory epithelium of certain parts of the internal ear.
      

   {Hair compass}, {Hair divider}, a compass or divider capable
      of delicate adjustment by means of a screw.

   {Hair glove}, a glove of horsehair for rubbing the skin.

   {Hair lace}, a netted fillet for tying up the hair of the
      head. --Swift.

   {Hair line}, a line made of hair; a very slender line.

   {Hair moth} (Zool.), any moth which destroys goods made of
      hair, esp. {Tinea biselliella}.

   {Hair pencil}, a brush or pencil made of fine hair, for
      painting; -- generally called by the name of the hair
      used; as, a camel's hair pencil, a sable's hair pencil,
      etc.

   {Hair plate}, an iron plate forming the back of the hearth of
      a bloomery fire.

   {Hair powder}, a white perfumed powder, as of flour or
      starch, formerly much used for sprinkling on the hair of
      the head, or on wigs.

   {Hair seal} (Zool.), any one of several species of eared
      seals which do not produce fur; a sea lion.

   {Hair seating}, haircloth for seats of chairs, etc.

   {Hair shirt}, a shirt, or a band for the loins, made of
      horsehair, and worn as a penance.

   {Hair sieve}, a strainer with a haircloth bottom.

   {Hair snake}. See {Gordius}.

   {Hair space} (Printing), the thinnest metal space used in
      lines of type.

   {Hair stroke}, a delicate stroke in writing.

   {Hair trigger}, a trigger so constructed as to discharge a
      firearm by a very slight pressure, as by the touch of a
      hair. --Farrow.

   {Not worth a hair}, of no value.

   {To a hair}, with the nicest distinction.

   {To split hairs}, to make distinctions of useless nicety.
      [1913 Webster] hairball