brass English · revision 10316

+ {{infobox|confidence=unknown|formation=inherited|attested=c. 1000}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /bɹɑːs/ ''(UK)''; /bɹæs/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English bras, [[inh|ang|bræs|t=brass, bronze]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) of unknown origin.^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998)^(Etymonline) Barnhart and Hoad compare Old Frisian bres, copper, and Middle Low German bras, metal;^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) Etymonline calls it a mystery word with no known cognates beyond English, perhaps akin to French brasser, to brew, because brass is an alloy.^(Etymonline) Merriam-Webster suggests a West Germanic word perhaps borrowed from a source in southwest Asia.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ An alloy of copper, in England usually with tin, now called bronze: about 1000, in Ælfric's ''Grammar''.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The modern alloy of about two parts copper to one of zinc is a later use;^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) the use of brass in Bible translations probably means bronze, since brass was unknown in early antiquity.^(Etymonline) As a type of hardness, durability or insensibility it is from the late 14th century (1388).^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) A memorial tablet of brass is from 1613.^(OED 1989) Effrontery, impudence, is from the 1620s,^(Etymonline) and ''brassy'', forward in manner, from 1576.^(Barnhart 1988) The brass instruments of a band are a later sense,^(Etymonline)^(AHD) ''brass band'' is from 1827,^(Etymonline) and the slang sense of high officials, from their insignia, from 1899.^(Etymonline) ''Getting down to brass tacks'' is from 1897,^(Etymonline) and the brass monkey of cold weather from 1843.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1000 – an alloy of copper.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1388 – a type of hardness.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1576 – brassy, forward.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1613 – a memorial brass.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1620s – effrontery.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1827 – brass band.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1897 – brass tacks.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1899 – high officials (slang).^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A yellowish [[alloy]] of copper and zinc.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Objects or ornaments made of this alloy.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The brass instruments of a band or orchestra, or their players.^(AHD)

+ # A memorial plaque of brass, often with an engraved figure.^(AHD)

+ # ''(informal)'' High-ranking officers or officials.^(Etymonline)

+ # Impudence; [[effrontery]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[brassish]]

+ * [[brassbound]]

+ * [[brassie]]

+ * [[brassware]]

+ * [[brassy]]

+ * [[alpha brass]]

+ * [[beta brass]]

+ * [[brass band]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[braze]]

+ * [[brazen]]

+ * [[brazier]]

+ * [[bronze]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ In older dialect, brass meant copper money or small change.^(Wright 1898) Etymonline notes that words for brass in other languages, such as German Messing and French laiton, are also hard to explain.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}