hairbreadth
(ˈhɛəbrɛdθ)
1. The breadth or diameter of a hair; an infinitesimally small space or distance; a hair's-breadth.
| [c 1420: see hair n. 5.] 1561 T. Norton Calvin's Inst. iii. 259 Let vs not suffer our selues to be led so much as on heare bredth away from this onely foundation. 1611 Bible Judg. xx. 16 Euery one could sling stones at an haire breadth, and not misse. 1767 Fawkes tr. Idylls of Theocritus xiv. 12, I'm within a hair-breadth raving mad. 1815 Scott Guy M. xlvi, Drawing herself up so as not to lose one hair-breadth of her uncommon height. |
2. attrib. or as adj.: Extremely narrow or close, as hairbreadth difference, hairbreadth escape, hairbreadth scape; hence, hairbreadth adventure, hairbreadth risk.
| 1604 Shakes. Oth. i. iii. 136 Haire-breadth scapes i' th' imminent deadly breach. 1768–74 Tucker Lt. Nat. (1852) I. 541 The hair-breadth differences of language. 1809 W. Irving Knickerb. vi. ii. (1840) 320 His hair-breadth adventures and heroic exploits. 1871 Freeman Hist. Ess. Ser. i. i. 9 The hair-breadth scapes of hunted patriots. |