Meanings of bristly face in English

From what little could be seen of his bristly face, its expression was stern, almost morose.

Dr. Leonard rubbed his bristly face irritably.

He relapsed into silence; his old, bristly face assumed a sardonic peace whenever his eyes fell upon her.

This person had been an old tramp and he was dead as a doornail-Christopherpoked his cold, bristly face to make sure.

I half crouched, pushing aside the branches, and when I had passed them I straightened-and walked almost into the bristly face of Old Man Soakes.