Word Study
hairbreadth
CIDE DICTIONARY
hairbreadth,
The diameter or breadth of a hair; a very small distance; sometimes, definitely, the forty-eighth part of an inch. [1913 Webster]
"Every one could sling stones at an hairbreadth and not miss." [1913 Webster]
hairbreadth, a.
Having the breadth of a hair; very narrow; as, a hairbreadth escape. [1913 Webster]
THESAURUS
hairbreadth
ace, bit, bowshot, brief span, close quarters, close range, closeness, confinement, crack, crowdedness, earreach, earshot, gunshot, hair, hair space, hairsbreadth, incapaciousness, inch, incommodiousness, limitation, little, little ways, narrow gauge, narrowness, nearness, pistol shot, restrictedness, restriction, short distance, short piece, short way, slenderness, span, spitting distance, step, straitness, strictness, tight squeeze, tightness, whiskerFor further exploring for "hairbreadth" in Webster Dictionary Online