Etymology dictionary
brier (n.1) — bronco (n.)
brier (n.1)
"thorny shrub, heath," 1540s, a variant of Middle English brere, from Old English brer (Anglian), brær (West Saxon) "brier, bramble, prickly bush," which is of unknown origin. Briar is the most recent variant (c. 1600). Originally used of prickly, thorny bushes in general, now mostly restricted to wild rose bushes (sweet briar). Used figuratively (in plural) for "troubles" from c. 1500. French bruyère "heath plant" (source of brier (n.2)) is considered to be unrelated.
brig (n.)
"two-masted square-rigged vessel," 1720, colloquial shortening of brigantine (q.v.). The meaning "a ship's jail" is by 1841, American English, perhaps from the use of such vessels as prison ships upon retirement from active duty.
brigade (n.)
subdivision of an army, 1630s, from French brigade "body of soldiers" (14c.), from Italian brigata "troop, crowd, gang," from brigare "to brawl, fight," from briga "strife, quarrel," perhaps of Celtic (compare Gaelic brigh, Welsh bri "power"), from PIE root *gwere- (1) "heavy." Or perhaps from Germanic.
brigadier (n.)
1670s, "officer in command of a brigade," from French brigadier, from brigade "body of soldiers" (see brigade). Brigadier-general is the fuller form of the title.
brigand (n.)
c. 1400, also brigaunt, "lightly armed irregular foot-soldier," from Old French brigand (14c.), from Italian brigante "trooper, skirmisher, foot soldier," from brigare "to brawl, fight" (see brigade). The sense of "robber, freebooter, one who lives by pillaging" is earlier in English (late 14c.), reflecting the lack of distinction between professional mercenary armies and armed, organized criminals.
brigandage (n.)
"highway robbery by organized gangs," c. 1600, from French brigandage, from brigand (see brigand).
brigantine (n.)
"small two-masted ship," 1520s, from French brigandin (15c.), from Italian brigantino, perhaps "skirmishing vessel, pirate ship," from brigante "skirmisher, pirate, brigand" from brigare "to fight" (see brigade and compare brigand).
bright (adj.)
"radiating or reflecting light," Old English bryht, metathesis of beorht "bright; splendid; clear-sounding; beautiful; divine," from Proto-Germanic *berhtaz "bright" (source also of Old Saxon berht, Old Norse bjartr, Old High German beraht, Gothic bairhts "bright"), from PIE root *bhereg- "to shine; bright, white." The meaning "quick-witted, having brilliant mental qualities" is from 1741.
The Germanic word was commonly used to form given names, and figures in the etymology of Robert, Albert, Bertha, Egbert, Gilbert, Herbert, Hubert, Lambert. In modern German it survives in names only (Albrecht, Ruprecht) and has been otherwise lost.
brightness (n.)
Middle English brightnesse "brilliance, radiance," from Old English beorhtnes "brightness, clearness, splendor, beauty;" see bright + -ness.
brighten (v.)
Middle English brightenen, from Old English *beorhtnian "make bright" (see bright (adj.) + -en (1)). The intransitive sense of "become brighter" is attested from c. 1300. The figurative meaning "dispel gloom from, cheer" is from 1590s. Related: Brightened; brightening. The simple verb bright (Old English byrhtan "be bright," geberhtan "make bright") was in Middle English, often in figurative senses "cleanse, purify; clarify, explain," but has become obsolete.
Bright's disease
"chronic nephritis," 1831, so called for English physician Richard Bright (1789-1858), who in 1827 first described it.
brill (n.)
kind of flat fish, late 15c., a name of unknown origin.
brilliancy (n.)
"quality of being brilliant," 1747; see brilliant + abstract noun suffix -cy. Also compare brilliance.
brilliance (n.)
"quality of being brilliant," 1755, from brilliant + -ance. The figurative sense (of wit, intelligence, etc.) is from 1779. Distinguished from brilliancy in that the latter usually is applied to things measurable in degrees.
brilliant (adj.)
"sparkling with light or luster," 1680s, from French brilliant "sparkling, shining" present participle of briller "to shine" (16c.), from Italian brillare "sparkle, whirl," perhaps from Vulgar Latin *berillare "to shine like a beryl," from berillus "beryl, precious stone," from Latin beryllus (see beryl).
The figurative sense of "distinguished by admirable qualities" is from 1848. Of diamonds from 1680s in reference to a flat-topped cut invented 17c. by Venetian cutter Vincenzo Peruzzi. Related: Brilliantly; brilliantness.
brim (n.)
"brink, edge, margin," c. 1200, brymme "edge (of the sea), bank (of a river)," a word of obscure origin, chiefly Northern, which is probably from or related to dialectal German bräme "margin, border, fringe," from PIE *bhrem- "point, spike, edge." It was extended by 1520s to the upper or projecting edge of anything hollow (cups, basins, hats).
Old English (and northern Middle English) had brim "sea, surf, pool, spring, river, body of water," of uncertain origin perhaps akin to Old Norse barmr "rim, brim." "It became obs. in ME.; but was perhaps used by Spenser" [OED].
brim (v.)
"to fill to the brim," 1610s, from brim (n.). The intransitive sense of "be full to the brim" is attested from 1818. To brim over "overflow" is from 1825. Related: Brimmed; brimming.
brimming (adj.)
"being full to the brim," 1660s, present-participle adjective from brim (v.).
brimful (adj.)
also brim-full, "full to the top," 1520s, from brim (n.) + -ful.
brimstone (n.)
"sulfur in a solidified state," Old English brynstan, from brin- stem of brinnen "to burn" (from Proto-Germanic *brennan "to burn," from PIE root *gwher- "to heat, warm") + stan (see stone (n.)). In Middle English the first element also is recorded as brem-, brom-, brum-, bren-, brin-, bron-, brun-, bern-, born-, burn-, burned-, and burnt-. Formerly "the mineral sulfur," it is now restricted to biblical usage.
The Old Norse cognate compound brennusteinn meant "amber," as does German Bernstein.
brinded (adj.)
also brended, of animal hide, "variegated by streaks and spots," early 15c., the older form of brindled (q.v.).
brindled (adj.)
of horses, cows, dogs, etc., "marked with streaks, streaked with a darker color," 1670s, a variant of Middle English brended (early 15c.), from bren "brown color" (13c.), noun from past participle of brennen "burn" (from Proto-Germanic *brennan "to burn," from PIE root *gwher- "to heat, warm"). The etymological sense of the adjective appears to be "marked as though by branding or burning." The form was altered perhaps by influence of kindled.
brindle (adj.)
"gray with bands of darker gray or black," 1670s, variant of brindled.
brine (n.)
Middle English brine "salt water," from Old English bryne "water saturated with salt," cognate with Dutch brijn, Flemish brijne, but all of unknown origin.
bring (v.)
Old English bringan "to bear, convey, take along in coming; bring forth, produce, present, offer" (past tense brohte, past participle broht), from Proto-Germanic *brangjanan (source also of Old Frisian branga "attest, declare, assure," Middle Dutch brenghen, Old High German bringan, German bringen, Gothic briggan). There are no exact cognates outside Germanic, but it appears to be from PIE *bhrengk- (source also of Welsh he-brwng "bring"), which, according to Watkins, is based on root *bher- (1) "to carry," also "to bear children," but Boutkan writes, "We are probably dealing with a Germanic/Celtic substratum word."
The tendency to conjugate this as a strong verb on the model of sing, drink, etc., is ancient: Old English also had a rare strong past participle form, brungen, corresponding to modern colloquial brung.
To bring about "effect, accomplish" is from late 14c. To bring down is from c. 1300 as "cause to fall," 1530s as "humiliate," 1590s as "to reduce, lessen." To bring down the house figuratively (1754) is to elicit applause so thunderous it collapses the theater roof. To bring forth "produce," as young or fruit is from c. 1200. To bring up is from late 14c. as "to rear, nurture;" 1875 as "introduce to consideration." To bring up the rear "move onward at the rear" is by 1708.
briny (adj.)
"salty," c. 1600, from brine + -y (2). Used earlier of tears than of the ocean (1610s). Related: Brininess.
brink (n.)
"edge or border of a steep place," early 13c., from Middle Low German brink "edge," or from a Scandinavian source akin to Danish brink "steepness, shore, bank, grassy edge," from Proto-Germanic *brenkon, probably from PIE *bhreng-, variant of *bhren- "to project; edge" (source also of Lithuanian brinkti "to swell").
brinkmanship (n.)
also brinksmanship (with unetymological -s-), 1956, a construction based on salesmanship, sportsmanship, etc.; from brink (n.). The image of the brink of war dates to at least 1829 (John Quincy Adams).
In the Cold War it was associated with the policies advocated by John Foster Dulles, U.S. Secretary of State 1953-1959. The word springs from Dulles' description of his philosophy in a magazine interview [with Time-Life Washington bureau chief James Shepley] in early 1956:
The quote was widely criticized by the Eisenhower Administration's opponents, and the first attested use of brinkmanship seems to have been in such a disparaging context, a few weeks after the magazine interview appeared, by Democratic presidential candidate Adlai Stevenson criticizing Dulles for "boasting of his brinkmanship — the art of bringing us to the edge of the nuclear abyss."
brio (n.)
"liveliness, vivacity," 1734, from Italian brio "mettle, fire, life," perhaps a shortened derivative of Latin ebrius "drunk." Or via Provençal briu "vigor," from Celtic *brig-o- "strength," from PIE root *gwere- (1) "heavy." Probably it entered English via the musical instruction con brio.
brioche (n.)
enriched type of French bread, 1824, from French brioche (15c.), from brier "to knead the dough," Norman form of broyer "to grind, pound," from Proto-Germanic *brekan "to break" (from PIE root *bhreg- "to break"). It is attested by 1840 as "round or stuffed cushion for the feet to rest on."
briquette (n.)
also briquet, "small brick," 1870, especially "block of compressed coal dust held together by pitch," used for fuel, from French briquette (18c.), diminutive of brique (see brick (n.)).
brisk (adj.)
"quick or rapid in action or motion, swift, lively," 1550s, as Scottish bruisk, which is of uncertain origin; perhaps an alteration of French brusque (see brusque). Related: Briskly; briskness.
brisket (n.)
"breast or rib-meat of an animal," mid-14c., brusket, perhaps from Old French bruschet, with identical sense of the English word, or from Old Norse brjosk "gristle, cartilage" (related to brjost "breast") or Danish bryske or Middle High German brusche "lump, swelling;" from PIE *bhreus- "to swell, sprout" (see breast (n.)).
bristle (v.)
c. 1200 (implied in past-participle adjective bristled) "set or covered with bristles," from bristle (n.). Of hair, "to stand or become stiff and upright," late 15c. The extended meaning "become angry or excited" is 1540s, from the way animals show fight. Related: Bristling.
bristle (n.)
"stiff, coarse hair of certain animals," especially those set along the backs of hogs, Old English byrst "bristle," with metathesis of -r-, from Proto-Germanic *bursti- (source also of Middle Dutch borstel, German borste, Danish börste), from PIE *bhrsti- from root *bhars- "point, bristle" (source also of Sanskrit bhrstih "point, spike"). With -el, diminutive suffix. Extended to similar appendages on some plants and insects.
bristly (adj.)
1590s, "thickly set with bristles," from bristle (n.) + -y (2). The figurative sense is recorded from 1872. Related: Bristliness.
Bristol
City in western England, Middle English Bridgestow, from Old English Brycgstow, literally "assembly place by a bridge" (see bridge (n.) + stow). A local peculiarity of pronunciation adds -l to words ending in vowels. Of a type of pottery, 1776; of a type of glass, 1880. In British slang, bristols, "breasts," is by 1961, from Bristol cities, rhyming slang for titties.
Brit (n.)
U.S. colloquial shortening of Britisher or Briton, 1901, formerly (with Britisher) felt as offensive by Englishmen traveling in the States, who regarded it as another instance of the "odious vulgarism" of the Americans, but Bret and Bryt were common Old English words for the (Celtic) Britons and survived until c. 1300. In Old French, Bret as an adjective meant "British, Breton; cunning, crafty; simple-minded, stupid."
Britain (n.)
proper name of the island containing England, Scotland, and Wales, c. 1300, Breteyne, from Old French Bretaigne, from Latin Britannia, earlier Brittania, from Brittani "the Britons" (see Briton). The Old English place-name Brytenlond meant "Wales." If there was a Celtic name for the island, it has not been recorded.
Britannic (adj.)
"of or pertaining to Great Britain," 1640s, from Latin Britannicus, from Britannia (see Britain).
Britannia
Latin name of Britain, preserved in poetry and as the proper name of the female figure who personifies the place on coinage, etc.
britches (n.)
1905, variant of britch (1620s), an old variant of breech (see breeches).
brite
a spelling variant of bright (adj.). It figures in English phonetic spelling reforms from at least the late 19c.; as an advertiser's word it dates from at least 1905 ("Star-brite Metal Polish," made by the Star-Brite Company of Lancaster, Pa., U.S.).
Britisher (n.)
"native or inhabitant of Great Britain," 1829, American English, more or less disparaging, from British + -er (1).
British (adj.)
Old English Bryttisc "of or relating to (ancient) Britons," from Bryttas "natives of ancient Britain" (see Briton). The meaning "of or pertaining to Great Britain" is from c. 1600; the noun meaning "inhabitants of Great Britain" is from 1640s. British Empire is from c. 1600. First modern record of British Isles is from 1620s. British English as the form of the English language spoken in Britain is by 1862 (George P. Marsh). Related: Britishness.
Briton (n.)
c. 1200, "a Celtic native of the British Isles," from Anglo-French Bretun, from Latin Brittonem (nominative Britto, misspelled Brito in MSS) "a member of the tribe of the Britons," from *Britt-os, the Celtic name of the Celtic inhabitants of Britain and southern Scotland before the 5c. Anglo-Saxon invasion drove them into Wales, Cornwall, and a few other corners. In 4c. B.C.E. Greek they are recorded as Prittanoi, which is said to mean "tattooed people."
In Middle English it was exclusively in historical use, or in reference to the inhabitants of Brittany (see Breton); it was revived when James I was proclaimed King of Great Britain in 1604, and made official at the union of England and Scotland in 1707.
Brittany (n.)
c. 1200, Brutaine, Britaine, from Old French Bretaigne, named for 5c. Romano-Celtic refugees from the Anglo-Saxon invasion of Britain who crossed the channel and settled there (see Britain). The Little Britain or Less Britain (lasse brutaine, c. 1300) of old, contrasted with the Great Britain. As a name for girls (variously spelled) it was all but unknown in U.S. before 1970, then a top-10 name for babies born between 1986 and 1995. The Brittany spaniel dog breed is attested by 1929.
brittle (adj.)
"breaking easily and suddenly," late 14c., britel, perhaps from an unrecorded Old English adjective *brytel, related to brytan "to crush, pound, to break to pieces," from Proto-Germanic stem *brutila- "brittle," from *breutan "to break up" (source also of Old Norse brjota "to break," Old High German brodi "fragile"), from PIE *bhreu- "to cut, break up" (see bruise (v.)). With -le, suffix forming adjectives with meaning "liable to." Related: Brittleness.
bro (n.)
colloquial abbreviation of brother, attested from 1660s.
Bros.
common commercial abbreviation of Brothers.
broach (v.)
"to pierce," mid-14c., from Old French brochier "to spur," also "to penetrate sexually" (12c., Modern French brocher), from the Old French noun (see broach (n.), and compare Italian broccare). The meaning "begin to talk about" is 1570s, a figurative use with suggestions of "broaching" a cask or of spurring into action (which was a sense of the verb in Middle English). Related: Broached broaching.
broach (n.)
"pointed instrument," c. 1300, from Old French broche (12c.) "spit for roasting, awl, point end, top," from Vulgar Latin *brocca "pointed tool" (source also of Spanish broca, Italian brocca), noun use of fem. of Latin adjective broccus "projecting, pointed" (used especially of teeth), perhaps of Gaulish origin (compare Gaelic brog "awl").
broad (n.)
c. 1300, "breadth" (obsolete), from broad (adj.). The sense of "a shallow, reedy lake formed by the expansion of a river over a flat surface" is a Norfolk dialect word from 1650s. The meaning "the broad part" of anything is by 1741.
The slang sense of "woman" is by 1911, perhaps suggestive of broad hips, but it also might trace to American English abroadwife, word for a woman (often a slave) away from her husband. Earliest use of the slang word suggests immorality or coarse, low-class women. Because of this negative association, and the rise of women's athletics, the track and field broad jump (1863) was changed to the long jump c. 1967.
broad (adj.)
Old English brad "wide, not narrow," also "flat, open, extended," from Proto-Germanic *braidi- (source also of Old Frisian bred, Old Norse breiðr, Dutch breed, German breit, Gothic brouþs), which is of unknown origin. Not found outside Germanic languages. There is no clear distinction in sense from wide. Of day or daylight, late 14c.; of speech or accents, 1530s. Related: Broadly; broadness.
broadband (n.)
from 1620s in various senses, from broad (adj.) + band (n.1). In electronics from 1956 as "a band having a wide range of frequencies;" as a type of high-speed internet access, it was widely available from 2006.
broad-brim (adj.)
as a style of hat, 1680s, from broad (adj.) + brim (n.). Broad-brimmed in 18c.-19c. suggested "Quaker male," from their characteristic attire.
broadcasting (n.)
1922, verbal noun from broadcast (v.).
broadcast (adj.)
1767, "dispersed upon the ground by hand," in reference to seed, from broad (adj.) + past participle of cast (v.). The figurative sense of "widely spread" is recorded by 1785. As an adverb from 1832. The modern media use began with radio (1922, adjective and noun). As a verb, recorded from 1813 in an agricultural sense, 1829 in a figurative sense, 1921 in reference to radio.
broadcaster (n.)
"one who broadcasts," in any sense, 1922, agent noun from broadcast.
broadcloth (n.)
also broad-cloth, "fine woolen cloth used in making men's garments," early 15c., from broad (adj.) + cloth (n.). So called from its width (usually 60 inches).
broaden (v.)
1726, "make broad;" 1727, "grow broad;" from broad (adj.) + -en (1). The word seems no older than this (it was cited by Johnson in one of James Thomson's "Seasons" poems); broadened also is first found in the same poet. Broadening is recorded from 1835 as a noun, 1850 as a present-participle adjective.
broad-minded (adj.)
"unbiased, open-minded, free from prejudice or bigotry," 1590s; see broad (adj.) + -minded. This abstract mental sense of broad existed in Old English; for example in bradnes "breadth," also "liberality."
broadsheet (n.)
also broad-sheet, 1705, "large sheet of paper printed on one side only," from broad (adj.) + sheet (n.1). By 1831 as "a broadsheet newspaper."
broadside (n.)
"side of a ship" (technically, "the side of a ship above the water, between the bow and the quarter"), 1590s, from broad (adj.) + side (n.); thus "the artillery on one side of a ship all fired off at once" (1590s, with figurative extensions). Two words until late 18c.
In reference to things other than ships, 1630s. But the oldest-recorded sense in English is "sheet of paper printed on one side only" (1570s). As an adverb by 1870; as an adjective by 1932. As a verb from 1930, "skid sideways" (intransitive); transitive sense "strike broadside, collide with the side of" is by 1970.
broadsword (n.)
"sword with a broad blade," Old English brad swurd, from broad (adj.) + sword.
Broadway
common street name, c. 1300 as "a wide road or street," from broad (adj.) + way (n.); the allusive use for "New York theater district" is by 1881.
Brobdingnag
1727, Swift's name in "Gulliver's Travels" for an imaginary country where everything was on a gigantic scale. Not *brobdignag.
brobdingnagian (adj.)
"huge, immense, gigantic," 1728, from Brobdingnag + -ian.
brocade (v.)
"to weave or work into a brocade," 1650s (implied in brocaded), from brocade (n.). Related: Brocading.
brocade (n.)
"silken fabric variegated with gold and silver or otherwise ornamented," 1560s, from Spanish brocado, corresponding to Italian broccato "embossed cloth," originally past participle of broccare "to stud, set with nails," from brocco (Spanish broca) "small nail," from Latin broccus "projecting, pointed" (see broach (n.)).
broccoli (n.)
variety of common cabbage with a dense, edible head, 1690s, from Italian broccoli, plural of broccolo "a sprout, cabbage sprout," diminutive of brocco "shoot, protruding tooth, small nail," from Latin broccus (see broach (n.)).
broch (n.)
prehistoric stone tower of the Scottish Highland and isles, 1650s, from Scottish English broch, from Old Norse borg "castle," cognate with Old English burh (see borough).
brochure (n.)
"pamphlet; short written work stitched together," 1748, from French brochure "a stitched work," from brocher "to stitch" (sheets together), from Old French brochier "to prick, jab, pierce," from broche "pointed tool, awl" (see broach (n.)).
brock (n.)
Old English brocc "badger," a borrowing from Celtic (compare Old Irish brocc, Welsh broch), from Proto-Celtic *brokkos. After c. 1400, often with the adjective stinking and meaning "a low, dirty fellow.
brogan (n.)
type of coarse half-boot, 1846, from Irish and Gaelic brogan, diminutive of brog "shoe" (compare brogue). Related: Brogans.
brogue (n.)
type of Celtic accent, 1705, perhaps from the meaning "rough, stout shoe" (made of rawhide and tied with thongs), of the type worn by rural Irish and Scottish highlanders (1580s), via Gaelic or Irish, from Old Irish broce "shoe." The footwear was "characteristic of the wilder Irish" [Century Dictionary], thus the noun might mean something like "speech of those who call a shoe a brogue." Or perhaps it is from Old Irish barrog "a hold" (on the tongue).
broil (n.1)
"broiled meat," 1822, from broil (v.1).
broil (v.1)
"to cook (meat) by direct action of heat," late 14c. (earlier "to burn," mid-14c.), from Old French bruller "to broil, roast" (Modern French brûler), earlier brusler "to burn" (11c.), which, with Italian bruciare, is of uncertain and much-disputed origin.
Perhaps from Vulgar Latin *brodum "broth," borrowed from Germanic and ultimately related to brew (v.). Gamillscheg proposes it to be from Latin ustulare "to scorch, singe" (from ustus, past participle of urere "to burn") and altered by influence of Germanic "burn" words beginning in br-. From 1610 as "to be very hot." Related: Broiled; broiling.
broil (v.2)
early 15c., "to quarrel, brawl," also "mix up, present in disorder," from Anglo-French broiller "mix up, confuse," Old French brooillier "to mix, mingle," figuratively "to have sexual intercourse" (13c., Modern French brouiller), perhaps from breu, bro "stock, broth, brew," from Frankish or another Germanic source (compare Old High German brod "broth"), from PIE root *bhreu- "to boil, bubble, effervesce, burn." Compare Italian brogliare "to stir, disorder" (see imbroglio).
broil (n.2)
"a confused disturbance, quarrel," 1520s, from broil (v.2).
broiler (n.)
late 14c., "grill or gridiron used in broiling," agent noun from broil (v.1). From c. 1300 as a surname, perhaps meaning "cook who specializes in broiling." The meaning "chicken for broiling" is from 1858.
broke (adj.)
from obsolete past participle of break (v.); extension to "insolvent" is first recorded 1716 (broken in this sense is attested from 1590s). Old English cognate broc meant, in addition to "that which breaks," "affliction, misery."
broken (adj.)
"separated by force into parts, not integral or entire," past-participle adjective from Old English brocken, past participle of break (v.). Of terrain, "rough," 1590s; of language, "imperfect, ungrammatical," 1590s. Related: Brokenly; brokenness. Broken home, one in which the parents of children no longer live together, is from 1846. Broken record in reference to someone continually repeating the same thing is from 1944, in reference to scratches on phonograph disks that cause the needle to jump back and repeat.
broken-hearted (adj.)
also brokenhearted, "depressed or crushed by grief of despair," 1520s, from broken + -hearted. Related: Broken-heartedly; broken-heartedness.
broker (v.)
"to act as a broker," 1630s (implied in brokering), from broker (n.). Related: Brokered.
broker (n.)
mid-14c. (mid-13c. in surnames), "commercial agent, factor," also "an agent in sordid business," from Anglo-French brocour "small trader," from abrokur "retailer of wine, tapster;" perhaps from Portuguese alborcar "barter," but more likely from Old French brocheor, from brochier "to broach, tap, pierce (a keg)," from broche (Old North French broke, broque) "pointed tool" (see broach (n.)), with an original sense of "wine dealer," hence "retailer, middleman, agent." In Middle English, used contemptuously of peddlers and pimps, "one who buys and sells public office" (late 14c. in Anglo-French), "intermediary in love or marriage" (late 14c.).
brokerage (n.)
mid-15c., "a broker's trade," from broker (n.) + -age. Also, in 17c., "a pimp's trade." From 1620s as "fee or commission charged for doing business as a broker."
brolly (n.)
British slang, "umbrella," by 1866, a clipped and shortened form of umbrella.
bromatography (n.)
"a description of foods," 1844, from combining form of Greek brōma "food" + -graphy "a writing, recording, or description."
bromeliad (n.)
one of a group of related plants indigenous to South America and the West Indies, from Modern Latin Bromeliaceæ, family name given by Linnæus, for Olaus Bromel (1639-1705), Swedish botanist. Related: Bromeliads.
bromide (n.)
compound of bromine and another metal or radical, 1836, from bromine, the pungent, poisonous element, + -ide. Used medicinally as a sedative; figurative sense of "dull, conventional person or trite saying" popularized by U.S. humorist Frank Gelett Burgess in his book "Are You a Bromide?" (1906). Related: Bromidic.
bromine (n.)
nonmetallic element, 1827, from French brome, from Greek bromos "stench," a word of unknown etymology. With chemical suffix -ine (2). The evil-smelling dark red liquid was discovered by French chemist Antoine Jérôme Balard (1802-1876), who initially called it muride.
bronchia (n.)
"bronchial tubes," 1670s, from Latinized form of Greek bronkhia, plural of bronkhos "windpipe, throat," which is of unknown etymology.
bronchial (adj.)
"pertaining to the bronchia," 1735, from Late Latin bronchus, from Greek bronkhos "windpipe, throat" (a word of unknown etymology) + -al (1). Bronchial tube is from 1847. Related: Bronchially.
bronchiectasis (n.)
"dilation of the bronchial tubes," 1848, earlier in German, coined in Modern Latin from Greek bronkhia "the bronchial tubes" (see bronchia) + ektasis "a stretching out, extension, dilation," from ek (see ex-) + tasis "a stretching, tension, intensity" (from PIE root *ten- "to stretch").
bronchiole (n.)
"a small bronchial tube," 1849 (in French by 1825), Modern Latin, from diminutive of bronchia "the bronchial tubes" (see bronchia).
bronchitis (n.)
"inflammation of the bronchial membrane," coined in Modern Latin 1808 by Charles Bedham, from bronchia "the bronchial tubes" (see bronchia) + -itis "inflammation."
broncho-
before vowels bronch-, word-forming element meaning "bronchus," from Latinized form of Greek bronkhos "windpipe," a word of unknown origin.
bronchoscopy (n.)
"examination of the lungs by means of a bronchoscope," 1899, from German bronchoskopie (1898), from Latinized combining form of Greek bronkhia "the bronchial tubes" (see bronchia); also see -scopy.
bronchus (n.)
"either of the two main branches of the trachea" (plural bronchi), 1706, from Latinized form of Greek bronkhos "the wind pipe" (see bronchia).
bronco (n.)
also broncho, "untamed or half-tamed horse of the American Southwest," 1850, American English, apparently from a noun use of Spanish bronco (adj.) "rough, rude," originally a noun meaning "a knot in wood," perhaps from Vulgar Latin *bruncus "a knot, projection," apparently from a cross of Latin broccus "projecting" (see broach (n.)) + truncus "trunk of a tree" (see trunk (n.1)). Bronco-buster "person who breaks horses" is attested from 1886.