brigand English · revision 2106

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈbɹɪɡ.ənd/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fro|brigand|t=foot soldier]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) [[der|it|brigante|t=skirmisher, trooper]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) from ''brigare'' “to fight”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) from ''briga'' “strife”.^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) Merriam-Webster takes ''briga'' to be of Celtic origin, akin to Old Irish ''bríg'' “strength”;^(MW Collegiate) Random House calls its origin uncertain.^(RHWU) It is related to [[brigade]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A lightly armed, irregular foot soldier (about 1400).^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the Middle Ages there was little difference between mercenary soldiers and organized bands of armed criminals,^(Etymonline) so the word passed easily to a man who lives by plunder.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The OED dates that sense to 1421, while Etymonline finds it already in the late 14th century.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) The soldier sense is now obsolete.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1387 – ''brigant''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * ?a1400 – a light-armed foot soldier.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1421 – one who lives by robbery, a bandit.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1886 – verb, to be attacked by brigands.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A robber or bandit, especially one of a band living in mountains or forests.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[brigandage]]

+ * [[brigandish]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[brigandine]]

+ * [[brigade]]

+ * [[brigantine]]

+ * [[bandit]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}