English
Alternative forms
hairsbreadth
hair's breadth
Etymology
compound hair + breadth
Pronunciation
(Canada) IPA|/�h�r�br�dθ/
Noun
en-noun
#the width of a hair, a very short distance or a very small amount
#*1749: Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling
#*: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.
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