brandish English · revision 1608

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈbɹændɪʃ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|braundishen]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate) [[der|fro|brandir|t=to flourish a sword]], from its stem ''brandiss-'',^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) from ''brand'' or ''brant'' “sword”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) which is of Germanic origin,^(AHD)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) probably Frankish.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) It is related to [[brand]].^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To wave a weapon about as a threat or display (before 1340).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The weapon sense has remained central.^(OED 1989)^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate) Early writers also used the verb of moving the limbs vigorously, of a snake darting its tongue,^(OED 1989) and of the sun darting out rays (1598, now obsolete).^(OED 1989) The sense of flaunting something ostentatiously, not only a weapon, is now common.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1340 – to flourish a weapon.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * about 1340 – to make a display, to swagger.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1552 – to glitter or flash, now obsolete.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1599 – noun, a flourish of a weapon.^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To wave a [[weapon]] menacingly.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To display something ostentatiously or aggressively; to [[flaunt]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A threatening or defiant wave or [[flourish]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[brandisher]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Random House gives ''swing'', ''flaunt'', ''wield'' and ''display'' as synonyms.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}