Added 8 October 2026
brass
/bɹɑːs/ noun
In Latin: aurichalcum, orichalcum Wiktionary
noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about brass at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- A metallic alloy of copper and zinc used in many industrial and plumbing applications.
- A memorial or sepulchral tablet usually made of brass or latten: a monumental brass.
- Fittings, utensils, or other items made of brass.
adjective
- Made of brass, of or pertaining to brass.
- Of the color of brass.
- Impertinent, bold: brazen.
verb
- To coat with brass.
noun
- A prostitute.
Origin
From Middle English bras, bres, from Old English bræs (“brass, bronze”), of uncertain origin. Perhaps representing a backformation from Proto-Germanic *brasnaz (“brazen”), from or related to *brasō (“fire, pyre”). Compare Old Norse and Icelandic bras (“solder”), Icelandic brasa (“to harden in the fire”), Swedish brasa (“a small controlled fire”), Danish brase (“to fry”); French braser ("to solder"; > English braise) from the same Germanic root. Compare also Middle Dutch braspenninc ("a silver coin", literally, "silver-penny"; > Dutch braspenning), Old Frisian bress (“copper”), Middle Low German bras (“metal, ore”) and برنج (branj, “brass”) In the military sense an ellipsis of the brass hats.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)