Brus"tle (&?;), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Brustled (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Brustling (&?;).] [OE. brustlien and brastlien, AS. brastlian, fr. berstan to burst, akin to G. prasseln to crackle. See Burst, v. i.] 1. To crackle; to rustle, as a silk garment. [Obs.] Gower.

2. To make a show of fierceness or defiance; to bristle. [Obs.]

To brustle up, to bristle up. [Obs.] Otway.

Brus"tle, n. A bristle. [Obs. or Prov.] Chaucer.