adjective, hair·i·er, hair·i·est.
- covered with hair; having much hair.
- consisting of or resembling hair: moss of a hairy texture.
- Informal.
- causing anxiety or fright: a hairy trip through the rapids.
- full of hardship or difficulty: a hairy exam; a hairy illness.
adjective hairier or hairiest
- having or covered with hair
- slang
- difficult or problematic
- scaring, dangerous, or exciting
early 14c., from hair + -y (2). From 1848 in slang sense of “difficult.” Farmer calls this “Oxford slang.” Perhaps from the notion of “rugged, rough.” Related: Hairiness.
adj.
- Covered with hair or hairlike projections.
- Consisting of or resembling hair.