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DictionaryhirsuteHairy
adjective

hirsute

HUR-soot/ˈhɜːrsuːt/

Covered with a lot of hair.

The hirsute dog has long, abundant hair covering its body and face.

A shaggy dog whose long, abundant hair covers its body, legs, cheeks, and brow, making the hairiness immediately visible.
Etymology
hirsuteLatinrough, shaggy, bristly

Latin hirsutus conveyed a rough, shaggy or bristly appearance. Hirsute applies that shaggy image to abundant hair, rather than simply describing something as rough to the touch.

More examples

  • The hirsute actor shaves his back for the role.
  • She spreads sunscreen over her hirsute forearms.
  • Unlike his hirsute brothers, he has almost no body hair.

Forms

hirsuteness noun — The state of having abundant hair.

Similar words

hairy
The everyday alternative; hirsute sounds more formal or humorous.
shaggy
Describes long, untidy hair rather than simply abundant hair.