whisker

Etymology

Middle English wisker, whisk (verb) + -er

noun

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. (colloquial) The (very small) distance between two things.
   It missed falling on your foot by a whisker.
   Boosted by their reward, Wolves continued to push forward and Jamie O'Hara came within a whisker of doubling the lead, smashing a 25-yard effort on to the bar. May 14, 2011, Peter Scrivener, “Sunderland 1 - 3 Wolverhampton”, in BBC Sport
5. (nautical) Spreaders from the bows to spread the bowsprit shrouds.
6. (statistics) 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. (metallurgy) A small tendril that forms on metal.