Definition of hair:

• The Hebrews were fully alive to the importance of the hair as an element of personal beauty. Long hair was admired in the case of young men. ( 2 Samuel 14:26 ) In times of affliction the hair was altogether cut off. ( Isaiah 3:17 Isaiah 3:24 ; 15:2 ; Jeremiah 7:29 ) Tearing the hair ( Ezra 9:3 ) and letting it go dishevelled were similar tokens of grief. The usual and favorite color of the hair was black, ( Solomon 5:11 ) as is indicated in the comparisons in ( Solomon 1:5 ; 4:1 ) a similar hue is probably intended by the purple of ( Solomon 7:6 ) Pure white hair was deemed characteristic of the divine Majesty. ( Daniel 7:9 ; Revelation 1:14 ) The chief beauty of the hair consisted in curls, whether of a natural or an artificial character. With regard to the mode of dressing the hair, we have no very precise information; the terms used are of a general character, as of Jezebel, ( 2 Kings 9:30 ) and of Judith, ch. 10:3, and in the New Testament, ( 1 Timothy 2:9 ; 1 Peter 3:3 ) The arrangement of Samsons hair into seven locks, or more properly braids, ( Judges 16:13 Judges 16:19 ) involves the practice of plaiting, which was also familiar to the Egyptians and Greeks. The locks were probably kept in their place by a fillet, as in Egypt. The Hebrews like other nations of antiquity, anointed the hair profusely with ointments, which were generally compounded of various aromatic ingredients, ( Ruth 3:3 ; 2 Samuel 14:2 ; Psalms 23:6 ; 92:10 ; Ecclesiastes 9:8 ) more especially on occasions of festivity or hospitality. ( Luke 7:46 ) It appears to have been the custom of the Jews in our Saviours time to swear by the hair, ( Matthew 5:36 ) much as the Egyptian women still swear by the side-locks, and the men by their beards.
• The Egyptians let the hair of their head and beard grow only when they were in mourning, shaving it off at other times. " So particular were they on this point that to have neglected it was a subject of reproach and ridicule; and whenever they intended to convey the idea of a man of low condition, or a slovenly person, the artists represented him with a beard." Joseph shaved himself before going in to Pharoah ( Genesis 41:14 ). The women of Egypt wore their hair long and plaited. Wigs were worn by priests and laymen to cover the shaven skull, and false beards were common. The great masses of hair seen in the portraits and statues of kings and priests are thus altogether artificial.
• A precisely opposite practice, as regards men, prevailed among the Assyrians. In Assyrian sculptures the hair always appears long, and combed closely down upon the head. The beard also was allowed to grow to its full length.
• Among the Greeks the custom in this respect varied at different times, as it did also among the Romans. In the time of the apostle, among the Greeks the men wore short hair, while that of the women was long ( 1 Corinthians 11:14 1 Corinthians 11:15 ). Paul reproves the Corinthians for falling in with a style of manners which so far confounded the distinction of the sexes and was hurtful to good morals. ( See , however, 1 Timothy 2:9 , and 1 Peter 3:3 , as regards women.)
• Among the Hebrews the natural distinction between the sexes was preserved by the women wearing long hair ( Luke 7:38 ; John 11:2 ; 1 Corinthians 11:6 ), while the men preserved theirs as a rule at a moderate length by frequent clipping. Baldness disqualified any one for the priest's office ( Leviticus 21 ). Elijah is called a " hairy man" ( 2 Kings 1:8 ) from his flowing locks, or more probably from the shaggy cloak of hair which he wore. His raiment was of camel's hair. Long hair is especially noticed in the description of Absalom's person ( 2 Samuel 14:26 ); but the wearing of long hair was unusual, and was only practised as an act of religious observance by Nazarites ( Numbers 6:5 ; Judges 13:5 ) and others in token of special mercies ( Acts 18:18 ). In times of affliction the hair was cut off ( Isaiah 3:17 Isaiah 3:24 ; 15:2 ; 22:12 ; Jeremiah 7:29 ; Amos 8:10 ). Tearing the hair and letting it go dishevelled were also tokens of grief ( Ezra 9:3 ). " Cutting off the hair" is a figure of the entire destruction of a people ( Isaiah 7:20 ). The Hebrews anointed the hair profusely with fragrant ointments ( Ruth 3:3 ; 2 Sam 14:2 ; Psalms 23:5 ; 45:7 , etc.), especially in seasons of rejoicing ( Matthew 6:17 ; Luke 7:46 ). These dictionary topics are fromM.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition,published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain, copy freely.[ N] indicates this entry was also found in Nave's Topical Bible[S] indicates this entry was also found in Smith's Bible DictionaryBibliography InformationEaston, Matthew George. " Entry for Hair". " Easton's Bible Dictionary". .
• filamentous hairlike growth on a plant; " peach fuzz"
• a very small distance or space; " they escaped by a hair's- breadth"; " they lost by a hair"
• any of the cylindrical filaments characteristically growing from the epidermis of a mammal; " there is a hair in my soup"
• dense growth of hairs covering the body or parts of it ( as on the human head); helps prevent heat loss; " he combed his hair"
• a very small distance or space; " they escaped by a hair's- breadth"; " they lost the election by a whisker"
• The collection or mass of filaments growing from the skin of an animal, and forming a covering for a part of the head or for any part or the whole of the body.
• One the above- mentioned filaments, consisting, in invertebrate animals, of a long, tubular part which is free and flexible, and a bulbous root imbedded in the skin.
• Hair ( human or animal) used for various purposes; as, hair for stuffing cushions.
• A slender outgrowth from the chitinous cuticle of insects, spiders, crustaceans, and other invertebrates. Such hairs are totally unlike those of vertebrates in structure, composition, and mode of growth.
• An outgrowth of the epidermis, consisting of one or of several cells, whether pointed, hooked, knobbed, or stellated. Internal hairs occur in the flower stalk of the yellow frog lily ( Nuphar).
• A spring device used in a hair- trigger firearm.
• A haircloth.
• Any very small distance, or degree; a hairbreadth.
• ( human or animal) used for various purposes; as, hair for stuffing cushions.
• One of the small filaments growing out of the skin of any animal; the mass of such threadlike growth; minute fibers on the surface of plants.
• 1. Pilus, one of the fine, long flexible appendages of the skin, covering the entire body except on the palms and soles and other flexor surfaces. See pilus and scapus. The hairs of the various parts of the body have received special names ( see below). 2. One of the fine, hair- like processes of the auditory cells of the labyrinth, of the taste- bulbs, and of other sensory cells, called auditory hairs, gustatory hairs, sensory hairs, etc.
• Filiform growth on the skin.
• A filament growing from the skin of an animal: the whole mass of hairs which forms a covering for the head or the whole body: ( bot.) minute hair- like processes on the cuticle of plants: anything very small and fine.
• Filament growing from the skin of an animal; the mass of hair; any fine filament.
• A filament growing from the skin of an animal; such filaments collectively; any similar outgrowth.
• A small filament, with a bulbous root, growing from the skin of an animal; the mass of filaments growing from the skin of an animal, and forming an integument or covering; anything very small or fine; minute hair- like filaments on the surface of plants.
• Fibres or threads of different degrees of fineness which cover the bodies of many animals; anything very small and fine having length; a hair, a single hair; a fine slender thread or filament; the hair, the whole collection or body of threads or filaments growing upon an animal, or upon any distinct part.
• A threadlike or filamentous outgrowth of the epidermis of animals; any outgrowth of the epidermis consisting of one or more cells, and very varied in shape.
• [ Anglo-Saxon] Any epidermal filamentous outgrowth consisting of one or more cells, varied in shape; a thread-like or filamentous outgrowth of epidermis of animals; a setum, q. v.

Usage examples for hair

1. Do you know, dear, that your hair is beautiful!"  The Missourian by Eugene P. (Eugene Percy) Lyle

2. " I hate men with curly hair," I said.  Lalage's Lovers 1911 by George A. Birmingham

3. Now you stop here, and do my hair directly.  A Double Knot by George Manville Fenn

4. Siminok put the hair in the fire.  Roumanian Fairy Tales by Various Compiler: Mite Kremnitz