hairbreadth

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English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

hair +‎ breadth

Pronunciation[edit]

Noun[edit]

hairbreadth (plural hairbreadths)

  1. 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[ndrew] 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[1]:
      [] 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.