hairy

Meaning

Adjective

• Of a person, having a lot of hair on the body.
• Of an animal, having a lot of fur.
• Of a body part other than the head, having hair growing from it.
• Difficult, complex, intricate, or intimidating.
• Causing anxiety or fright; terrifying, scary.

Related

Similar words

• furry, hairful, hirsute
• furry
• furry, hirsute

Opposite words

• bald
• hairless

Origin

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