The quality or state of having a beard; the condition of being covered with facial hair or having beard-like bristles.
From Middle English 'berd' (beard) with Old English roots, plus the suffix '-ness' (state of being). The 'beard' itself may come from Proto-Germanic 'barthaz' meaning bristle.
Before shaving became common among Europeans, 'beardedness' was considered the natural masculine default—calling out the state was like describing what water is when it's wet!
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