nose hair

• nosehair

nose hair (countable and uncountable, plural nose hairs)

1. (uncountable) Hair follicles inside the nostrils.
   • 2021 July 30, Richard Klasco, “Is Nose Hair Essential to Fighting Off Colds and Other Viral Illnesses?”, in The New York Times‎^[1], New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 30 July 2021:

     A medical “truism” holds that nose hair filters the air we breathe and therefore protects us from infection by airborne viruses, bacteria and other pathogens. But, as is often the case with truisms, its history may be more venerable than verified.

2. (countable) One such follicle.

   Synonym: vibrissa

   • 2001 August 3, Steve Harvey, “Simple ‘Star Trek’ Suggestion Could Have Saved NASA Lots of Trouble”, in Los Angeles Times‎^[2], Los Angeles, Calif.: Los Angeles Times Communications, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 24 November 2025:

     In “Sunset Boulevard” (1950), Mir pointed out, an actress played by Nancy Olson confides to a writer (William Holden) that she got a nose job to enhance her career prospects. Writer: “It’s a pretty nose.” Actress: “It should be. It cost $300.” I’m not even sure you could have a nose hair removed for $300 today.

   • 2021 July 30, Richard Klasco, “Is Nose Hair Essential to Fighting Off Colds and Other Viral Illnesses?”, in The New York Times‎^[3], New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 30 July 2021:

     The idea that our nose hairs, known medically as vibrissae, might offer protection against infectious germs goes back more than a century.

   • 2022 July 30, “Blind date: ‘Any awkward moments? When I asked if I could taste his honey’”, in Katharine Viner, editor, The Guardian‎^[4], London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 30 July 2022:

     What were you hoping for? / [Zahra:] That it would be worth the effort of getting ready, which included plucking out a nose hair.