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hirsute

unkempt, shaggy, hirsute

adjective eer-SYOOT Rare

Origin: Latin hirsutus (rough, shaggy)

Usage Note

Hirsute describes someone or something with wild, untidy hair or bristles, and carries a slightly literary or ironic register. It is invariable in gender (same form for masculine and feminine). Unlike chevelu, which focuses on length, hirsute stresses disorder and bristliness.

Examples

"Il avait l'air hirsute après sa nuit dehors."

Natural Translation

He looked dishevelled after his night outside.

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