Etymology: Derivation and original application uncertain: in Swedish brandgås (Icelandic brandgás only in the Þulur ) is the sheldrake or bergander; in German, brandgans is according to some the sheldrake, but with Grimm = Anser fuscus, the Black or Velvet Duck; in English, brant , brant-goose was long confounded with the barnacle goose. Early naturalists (Gesner, Aldrovandus, etc.) were content to derive the name < βρένθος an unidentified water-bird mentioned by Aristotle; later etymologists have suggested brended or branded adj.¹, brindled, and brand n. fire, burning, perhaps in sense of dusky black, or sooty colour; but in the absence of knowledge where the name arose, and to what bird it was originally applied, nothing can be determined.

Etymology: Old English brant , brǫnt ‘high, steep’, corresponding to Old Norse *brant-r , whence Icelandic bratt-r , Swedish brant , Danish brat ; not known in other Germanic languages. Found in literature in 16th cent., and still used in northern English dialect: the Scots form is brent n.