# whisker

> English word · Noun · IPA /ʍɪskə(ɹ)/ · frequency rank #49,721

## Definitions
1. That part of the beard which grows upon the sides of the face, usually of the male, or upon the chin, or upon both.
2. A hair of the beard.
3. One of the long, projecting hairs growing at the sides of the mouth of a cat, or other animal.
4. The (very small) distance between two things.
5. Spreaders from the bows to spread the bowsprit shrouds.
6. A graphic element that shows the maxima and minima in a box plot.
7. One who, or that which, whisks, or moves with a quick, sweeping motion.
8. A small tendril that forms on metal.

## Etymology
Inherited from Middle English wisker, whisk (verb) + -er.

## Easily confused with
- **wiser** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/whisker-vs-wiser)
- **whisky** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/whisker-vs-whisky)
- **wicker** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/whisker-vs-wicker)
- **whiskey** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/whisker-vs-whiskey)
- **whisper** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/whisker-vs-whisper)
- **Whitaker** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/whisker-vs-whitaker)
- **whistler** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/whisker-vs-whistler)
- **whisk** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/whisk-vs-whisker)
- **whimper** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/whimper-vs-whisker)

## Common misspellings (11)
`hwisker`, `whhisker`, `whikser`, `whisekr`, `whiskerr`, `whiskker`, `whiskre`, `whissker`, `whsiker`, `wihsker`, `wwhisker`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/whisker