bro English · revision 5483

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=clipping|attested=before 1666}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /brəʊ/, US /broʊ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a shortening of [[brother]].^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A written or colloquial abbreviation of brother: before 1666 in the OED, the 1660s in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) The plural Bros. is often used in the names of firms.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Green's Dictionary of Slang has bro for a brother, literal or figurative, from 1762, and notes its use for a literal brother in British public schools.^(GDoS) As a courteous title for a man it is from 1832, and as a familiar form of address from 1918, originally in African American use in the Caribbean and the American South.^(HTOED) A fellow member of a social or cultural group is from 1922, especially a fellow black man,^(HTOED)^(Dalzell 2013) and a close male friend from 1969.^(HTOED) In the 21st century it became a popular prefix in the United States, in words such as ''bromance''.^(Dalzell 2013) In South Africa bro or bru is a shortening of Afrikaans [[m|af|broer|t=brother]].^(DSAE)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1666 – an abbreviation of brother.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1832 – a title for a man.^(HTOED)

+ * 1918 – a familiar form of address.^(HTOED)

+ * 1922 – a fellow member of a group.^(HTOED)

+ * 1969 – a close male friend.^(HTOED)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(informal)'' A [[brother]].^(SOED 2002)^(COED 2004)

+ # ''(informal, chiefly North America)'' A male friend, or a friendly way of addressing a man.^(Collins 2023)^(COED 2004)

+ # ''(informal)'' A young man.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[brother]]

+ * [[bromance]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}