brassn.
/brɑːs/, /bras/, U.S. /bræs/ 1. † d. transferred. Copper. Obsolete.
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a. Historically: The general name for all alloys of copper with tin or zinc (and occasionally other base metals). To distinguish alloys of copper and tin, the name bronze n. has subsequently been adopted (Johnson 1755–73 explains the new word bronze as ‘brass’). Hence
b. In strict modern use, as distinguished from ‘bronze’: A yellow-coloured alloy of copper and zinc, usually containing about a third of its weight of zinc.The Old English bræs was, usually at least, an alloy of copper and tin (= bronze n.); in much later times the alloy of copper and zinc came gradually into general use, and became the ordinary ‘brass’ of England; though in reference to ancient times, and esp. to the nations of antiquity, ‘brass’ still meant the older alloy. When works of Greek and Roman antiquity in ‘brass’ began to be critically examined, and their material discriminated, the Italian word for ‘brass’ (bronzo, bronze) came into use to distinguish this ‘ancient brass’ from the current alloy. Corinthian brass: a reputed alloy of gold, silver, and copper.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > metal > alloy > [noun] > brass
oreeOE
brassc1000
gold maslinOE
c1000 Ælfric Gram. vi. 15 Aes, bræs oððe ar.
c1150 in T. Wright & R. P. Wülcker Anglo-Saxon & Old Eng. Vocab. (1884) I. 550 Æs, bres.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 17417 He shollde melltenn brass.
a1225 Juliana 30 Brune of wallinde breas.
a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 3898 Moyses ðor made a wirme of bras.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 5903 Þe king hert wex herd as bras.
1477 Earl Rivers tr. Dictes or Sayengis Philosophhres (Caxton) (1877) lf. 34 Men take glasses bras and other suche thinges, for as moche gold.
1552–3 Inv. Ch. Goods Staffords. 12 On chales of silver..ij of brasse, a sensor of brasse, ij candelstikes of brase.
1623 B. Jonson in W. Shakespeare Comedies, Hist. & Trag. sig. A1v O, could he but haue drawne his wit..in brasse.
1718 Lady M. W. Montagu Let. Sept. (1965) I. 436 Inscriptions on..tables of Brass.
1782 B. Thompson in Philos. Trans. 1781 (Royal Soc.) 71 327 Brass in a very fine powder, commonly called brass dust.
1865 S. Baring-Gould Bk. Were-wolves iv. 34 A compound like Corinthian brass into which many pure ores have been fused.
c. Taken as a type of hardness, imperishableness, insensibility, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > constitution of matter > hardness > [noun] > hard substance or thing > typically
steelc1275
flintc1330
diamondc1400
brassa1425
posta1450
iron1532
marble1586
pine knot1774
piecrust1869
a1425 (c1395) Bible (Wycliffite, L.V.) (Royal) (1850) Job vi. 12 Nethir my strengthe is the strengthe of stoonus, nether my fleisch is of bras.
1609 W. Shakespeare Sonnets cxx. sig. Hv Vnlesse my Nerues were brasse or hammered steele. View more context for this quotation
1623 W. Shakespeare & J. Fletcher Henry VIII iv. ii. 45 Mens euill manners, liue in Brasse, their Vertues We write in Water. View more context for this quotation
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > metal > base metal > [noun] > copper
copperc1000
brass1382
1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) Deut. viii. 9 Of the hillis of it ben doluen metallys of brasse [1535 Coverdale and 1611 thou mayest dig brass(e].
1617 F. Moryson Itinerary i. ii. iv. 177 Mines of Iron and Brass.
e. A wide-spread miner's name for iron pyrites in coal. Cf. brazil n.3
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > minerals > types of mineral > sulphides and related minerals > [noun] > pyrite group > pyrite
firestone1440
pyrites1567
mundic1662
maxy1671
pyrite1741
magistral1824
fool's gold1828
brass1829
1829 S. Glover Hist. County of Derby I. v. 234 Many of the coal-seams..have considerable quantities of brasses or drosses in them, which are lumps of iron pyrites.
1879 Cassell's Techn. Educator (new ed.) IV. 271/1 Detached masses of pyrites..are called ‘brasses’ by the colliers.
f. in Organ-building. (See quot.)
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > metal > alloy > [noun] > alloy for making organ pipes
brass1852
1852 tr. J. J. Seidel Organ & its Constr. 167 A great portion of the pipes are often composed of brass. This is nothing but a mixture or composition of lead and tin.
1852 tr. J. J. Seidel Organ & its Constr. 167 Good brass consists either of fifteen parts pewter and one part lead, or of fourteen parts pewter and two parts lead.
2. Used elliptically for various things made of brass: esp.
a. A sepulchral tablet of brass (or latten), bearing a figure or inscription, laid down on the floor or set up against the wall of a church.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > death > obsequies > monument > [noun] > tablet > brass
brass1613
heart brass1872
shroud-brass1890
skeleton brass1890
1613 Accts. St. John's Hosp., Canterbury (Canterbury Cathedral Archives: CCA-U13/5) Payd for fasting of the brass of the graves in the chaunsells vd.
1654 J. Evelyn Mem. (1857) I. 317 The soldiers had lately knocked off most of the brasses from the grave-stones.
1748 Defoe's Tour Great Brit. (ed. 4) II. 272 Merchants, as they are called on the Brasses over their Monuments.
1851 D. Wilson Archæol. & Prehistoric Ann. Scotl. iv. viii. 649 A small mural brass still remains in part of the church of St. Nicholas, Aberdeen.
1861 Sat. Rev. 22 June Once a zealous ‘rubber’, on asking whether there were any ‘brasses’ in a church, was guided, in answer, to the brass handles of the pew doors.
1869 C. Boutell tr. J. P. Lacombe Arms & Armour x. 195 The remarkable brass to Sir Hugh Hastings, A.D. 1347.
b. A bearing or block for a shaft.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > parts of machines > shaft > [noun] > parts of > support or bearing
headstock1688
brass1731
bearing1734
carriage1788
step1814
bearance1826
footstep1836
cod1839
pivot bearing1851
roller bearing1857
thrust-bearing1858
step-plate1869
thrust-bearer1869
needle bearing1870
journal-bearing1875
wall-bearing1875
plain bearing1893
tumbler-bearing1901
split bearing1902
sleeve bearing1907
thrust-box1918
taper roller bearing1930
1731 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 37 5 The Wheel lies with its two Gudgeons..upon two Brasses.
1790 J. Wood Specif. Patent 1744 The brasses or friction rollers for the necks and bearing of the crank to work in.
1823 R. Buchanan Pract. Ess. Mill Work (ed. 2) I. ii. 264 Produce irregular wear on the gudgeons and brasses.
c. A brazen vessel: cf. copper n.1 3a. (rare.)
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > receptacle or container > vessel > [noun] > metal vessel > brass
maslinOE
prig1511
prignet1570
brass1810
1810 R. Southey Curse of Kehama xvii. 186 Huge as a Ship that travels the main sea Is that capacious brass.
d. Musical instruments of brass.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > musical instrument > wind instrument > brass instruments > [noun]
brass1832
plumbing1935
society > leisure > the arts > music > musician > instrumentalist > company of instrumentalists > [noun] > orchestra > section of orchestra > specific
violino terzo1724
brass1876
wind1876
woodwind1876
strings1887
percussion1889
wood1901
timps1934
timpani1977
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) 1 Cor. xiii. 1 As bras sownnynge or a symbal tynkynge.]
1832 L. Hunt Poems 208 Ev'n the bees lag at the summoning brass.
1876 G. B. Shaw How to become Musical Critic (1960) 10 A good deal of piccolo, drum, and cymbal, relieved by an effective melody for the brass.
1885 Truth 11 June 928/1 There are not enough of them [fiddles]; the brass blows them all to pieces.
1926 P. Whiteman & M. M. McBride Jazz ix. 195 Musicians recognize four general classes of instruments in speaking of the orchestra—strings, wood winds, brasses, and the battery of traps.
e. Typography. A brass block or die, esp. one used for a design or lettering on the cover of a book. Often with defining word.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > printing > types, blocks, or plates > relating to type > [noun] > for title of book
title letter1755
hand letter1862
brass1930
1930 M. Sadleir Evol. Publishers' Binding Styles 1770– 1900 90 Such lettering was printed from a specially cut binding-brass... This brass was sometimes discarded and plain type lettering employed.
1951 S. Jennett Making of Bks. 175 The brass from which the lettering and decoration is blocked on a modern book.
f. slang. = brass nail n. at Compounds 3.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > moral evil > licentiousness > unchastity > prostitution > [noun] > a prostitute
meretrixOE
whoreOE
soiled dovea1250
common womanc1330
putec1384
bordel womanc1405
putaina1425
brothelc1450
harlot?a1475
public womanc1510
naughty pack?1529
draba1533
cat1535
strange woman1535
stew1552
causey-paikera1555
putanie?1566
drivelling1570
twigger1573
punka1575
hackney1579
customer1583
commodity1591
streetwalker1591
traffic1591
trug1591
hackster1592
polecat1593
stale1593
mermaid1595
medlar1597
occupant1598
Paphian1598
Winchester goose1598
pagan1600
hell-moth1602
aunt1604
moll1604
prostitution1605
community1606
miss1606
night-worm1606
bat1607
croshabell1607
prostitute1607
pug1607
venturer1607
nag1608
curtal1611
jumbler1611
land-frigate1611
walk-street1611
doll-common1612
turn-up1612
barber's chaira1616
commonera1616
public commonera1616
trader1615
venturea1616
stewpot1616
tweak1617
carry-knave1623
prostibule1623
fling-dusta1625
mar-taila1625
night-shadea1625
waistcoateera1625
night trader1630
coolera1632
meretrician1631
painted ladya1637
treadle1638
buttock1641
night-walker1648
mob?1650
lady (also girl, etc.) of the game1651
lady of pleasure1652
trugmullion1654
fallen woman1659
girlc1662
high-flyer1663
fireship1665
quaedama1670
small girl1671
visor-mask1672
vizard-mask1672
bulker1673
marmalade-madam1674
town miss1675
town woman1675
lady of the night1677
mawks1677
fling-stink1679
Whetstone whore1684
man-leech1687
nocturnal1693
hack1699
strum1699
fille de joie1705
market-dame1706
screw1725
girl of (the) town1733
Cytherean1751
street girl1764
monnisher1765
lady of easy virtue1766
woman (also lady) of the town1766
kennel-nymph1771
chicken1782
stargazer1785
loose fish1809
receiver general1811
Cyprian1819
mollya1822
dolly-mop1834
hooker1845
charver1846
tail1846
horse-breaker1861
professional1862
flagger1865
cocodette1867
cocotte1867
queen's woman1871
common prostitute1875
joro1884
geisha1887
horizontal1888
flossy1893
moth1896
girl of the pavement1900
pross1902
prossie1902
pusher1902
split-arse mechanic1903
broad1914
shawl1922
bum1923
quiff1923
hustler1924
lady of the evening1924
prostie1926
working girl1928
prostisciutto1930
maggie1932
brass1934
brass nail1934
mud kicker1934
scupper1935
model1936
poule de luxe1937
pro1937
chromo1941
Tom1941
pan-pan1949
twopenny upright1958
scrubber1959
slack1959
yum-yum girl1960
Suzie Wong1962
mattress1964
jamette1965
ho1966
sex worker1971
pavement princess1976
parlour girl1979
crack whore1990
1934 [see brass nail n. at Compounds 3].
1952 N. Streatfeild Aunt Clara 161 If Mr. Willis thought she was a brass, he had got another think coming... If you looked at those brown eyes you could see she was innocent as a baby.
1958 F. Norman Bang to Rights 10 His old woman who was a brass on the game.
3. Money.† a. Copper or bronze coin; also figurative. Obsolete.1526 Bible (Tyndale) Matt. x. f. xijv Posses nott golde, nor silver, nor brasse, yn youre gerdels.a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry V (1623) iv. iv. 19 Luxurious Mountaine Goat, offer'st me Brasse ? View more context for this quotation1775 G. Crabbe Inebriety i. 10 Where canvas purse displays the brass enroll'd.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > money > medium of exchange or currency > coins collective > [noun] > a copper or bronze coin
brass1362
black money1468
copper1712
copper-piece1735
follis1784
brown1819
clod1925
1362 W. Langland Piers Plowman A. iii. 189 Beere heor bras on þi Bac to Caleys to sulle. [Perhaps belongs here.]
b. Money in general, cash. slang or dialect.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > money > [noun]
silverc825
feec870
pennieseOE
wortheOE
mintOE
scata1122
spense?c1225
spendinga1290
sumc1300
gooda1325
moneya1325
cattlec1330
muckc1330
reasona1382
pecunyc1400
gilt1497
argentc1500
gelta1529
Mammon1539
ale silver1541
scruff1559
the sinews of war1560
sterling1565
lour1567
will-do-all1583
shell1591
trasha1592
quinyie1596
brass1597
pecuniary1604
dust1607
nomisma1614
countera1616
cross and pilea1625
gingerbreada1625
rhinoa1628
cash1646
grig1657
spanker1663
cole1673
goree1699
mopus1699
quid1699
ribbin1699
bustle1763
necessary1772
stuff1775
needfula1777
iron1785
(the) Spanish1788
pecuniar1793
kelter1807
dibs1812
steven1812
pewter1814
brad1819
pogue1819
rent1823
stumpy1828
posh1830
L. S. D.1835
rivetc1835
tin1836
mint sauce1839
nobbins1846
ochre1846
dingbat1848
dough1848
cheese1850
California1851
mali1851
ducat1853
pay dirt1853
boodle?1856
dinero1856
scad1856
the shiny1856
spondulicks1857
rust1858
soap1860
sugar1862
coin1874
filthy1876
wampum1876
ooftish1877
shekel1883
oil1885
oof1885
mon1888
Jack1890
sploshc1890
bees and honey1892
spending-brass1896
stiff1897
mazuma1900
mazoom1901
cabbage1903
lettuce1903
Oscar Asche1905
jingle1906
doubloons1908
kale1912
scratch1914
green1917
oscar1917
snow1925
poke1926
oodle1930
potatos1931
bread1935
moolah1936
acker1939
moo1941
lolly1943
loot1943
poppy1943
mazoola1944
dosh1953
bickies1966
lovely jubbly1990
scrilla1994
1597 Bp. J. Hall Virgidemiarum: 1st 3 Bks. i. iii. 9 Shame that the Muses should be bought and sold, For euery peasants brasse.
1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World II. 486 Obærati..pressed with the heauy burden of brasse, i. debt.
1792 R. Burns in J. Johnson Scots Musical Museum IV. 327 His auld brass will buy me a new pan.
1811 Ld. Byron Hints from Horace 548 Who ne'er despises books that bring him brass.
1847 C. Brontë Jane Eyre III. iii. 83 You've like no house, nor no brass, I guess?
1870 E. Peacock Ralf Skirlaugh III. 28 You wouldn't have gone near him..if it hadn't been for his brass.
4.
a. figurative. Taken as a type of insensibility to shame: hence, Effrontery, impudence, unblushingness.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pride > impudence > [noun] > shamelessness
unshamefulnessc950
unshamefastness?a1400
shamelessness1540
unshameless1555
shamefastness1589
unshamefacedness1596
flagrancy1599
blatancy1610
flagrance1634
brass1642
frontlessness1698
barefacedness1702
bronze1729
coolness1751
shamefacedness1827
bold-facedness1832
brazenness1861
unblushingness1891
1598 W. Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost v. ii. 395 Can anie face of brasse hold longer out? View more context for this quotation]
1642 T. Fuller Holy State v. x. 395 His face is of brasse, which may be said either ever or never to blush.
1682 Satyr to Muse 236 And like the Sweed is very Rich in Brass.
a1734 R. North Examen (1740) iii. viii. ⁋17 The Author hath the Brass to add, etc.
1780 C. A. Burney Jrnl. Apr. in F. Burney Early Jrnls. & Lett. (2003) IV. 41 I entered the Room without astonishing the Company by my Brass.
1853 T. T. Lynch Lect. Self-improvem. 45 An empty, vaunting person, who has brass enough to face the world.
b. Colloquial phrase as bold as brass: very bold(ly) or impudent(ly); brazen-faced(ly).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pride > impudence > impudent [phrase]
your saucepan runs over1699
as bold as brass1789
1789 G. Parker Life's Painter xv. 162 He died damn'd hard and as bold as brass. An expression commonly used among the vulgar after returning from an execution.
1849 E. Bulwer-Lytton Caxtons I. i. iv. 27 Master Sisty (coming out of the house as bold as brass) continued rapidly.
1922 S. J. Weyman Ovington's Bank xvii. 188 Seeing as he hung back I up to him bold as brass.
5. colloquial (originally U.S.).
a. High-ranking officers in the armed forces collectively. Frequently with modifying word intensifying the sense of distant seniority, esp. in top brass (also big brass, high brass, etc.). Cf. brass hat n. at Compounds 3. [By metonymy, with reference to their brass or gold insignia.]
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > warrior > soldier > leader or commander > officer or soldier of rank > [noun] > high-ranking officer > collectively
brass1870
1870 Beloit College Monthly Oct. 12 At every big plantation or negro shanty yard Just to save his property the generals plase a gard The sentrys instruction to let no private pass, The rich mans house and table are fixed to suit the brass.
1899 Boston Herald 26 July 4/8 It was not a big brass general that came; But a man in khaki kit.
1916 Searchlight (No. 2 Company, London Electrical Engineers) Dec. 74 You have heard the impassioned appeal of some one who wears a mythical metallic helmet, the irreverent call him a ‘Tin hat’, the degenerate a ‘Brass’.
1945 Life 2 July 13/3 I don't suppose that Congress and the Big Brass would ever agree to that.
1951 Economist 15 Dec. 1463/1 The ‘high brass’ of American business was also well represented at the meeting.
1959 A. C. Clarke Across Sea of Stars 123 The general was unaware of his faux pas. The assembled brass thought for a while.
2012 Independent 16 July 1/5 The Ministers and military top brass have announced that they will meet next week.
b. gen. The people in positions of authority in a hierarchy or organization. Frequently in top brass.
ΚΠ
1949 Bulletin (Philadelphia) 14 Sept. 4/1 The top police brass spreads out a hot carpet for the local cops.
1967 Nation 27 Feb. 265/2 If the Civil Service brass decides to hang a ‘psychoneurosis’ label on an employee, there's not much he can do to get rid of it.
1971 N. Brown Antarctic Housewife iv. 34 I did not have to join in this scramble, as I enjoyed the privilege of the front seat on the balcony, reserved for ‘top brass’ ladies and their husbands.
1993 People's Weekly World 6 Feb. 8/3 The outsized salaries, bonuses, perks of the top corporate brass.
2011 Daily Mirror (Nexis) 28 Mar. 60 The manner the decision was dispersed throughout the squad..has left the FA top brass hugely embarrassed.
Phrases
P1. slang. cold enough to freeze the balls (also tail, etc.) off a brass monkey: extremely cold. Also in similar and allusive phrases, occasionally referring to extreme heat rather than cold.It has been suggested that this phrase alludes to a brass rack, called a monkey, used to stack cannonballs on ships (cf. perhaps monkey n. 13), from which the balls might be expelled as a result of the metal contracting in extreme cold weather, but this has not been proven.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > cold weather > [phrase] > very cold
cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey1847
1835 F. Chamier Unfortunate Man I. iv. 117 He was told to be silent, in a tone of voice which set me shaking like a monkey in frosty weather.]
1847 H. Melville Omoo liii. 207 Under a sun which, as Shorty said, ‘was hot enough to melt the nose hoff a brass monkey’.
1857 C. A. Abbey Diary 16 Jan. in H. A. Gosnell Before Mast (1937) viii. 108 It would freeze the tail off a brass monkey.
1870 J. C. Duval Adventures Big-Foot Wallace xxv. 148 It is hot enough to scald the throat out of a brass monkey.
1889 J. S. Farmer Americanisms 86/1 Cold enough to freeze the nose off a brass monkey is a simile for intense cold amongst some people.
1921 D. O. Stewart Parody Outl. of Hist. vii. 153 I wisht de General would hurry up and come—it's getting cold enough to freeze the tail off a brass monkey.
1935 T. Wolfe Of Time & River iv. 67 That old pukey stuff! Why, it'd rot the guts of a brass monkey!
1937 E. Partridge Dict. Slang 528/2 Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey.
1959 B. Cochrell Barren Beaches of Hell 4 This weather'd freeze the rigs on a brass monkey.
1967 D. Potter Nigel Barton Plays 32 A bit cold... Brass monkey weather, eh?
1972 Evening Telegram (St. John's, Newfoundland) 5 Aug. 3/1 Here's Smallwood still putting up a brass-monkey face right to the bitter end.
1981 B. Carter Black Fox Running xxxix. 260 Wake up, Scoble, the sentry said. It's brass monkey weather... Dear God, wasn't it cold!
1988 Pract. Photogr. Jan. 49/4 It the weather's a bit brass monkey-ish you need warm clothing.
1994 Camping Mag. Jan. 4/1 David will be doing his best to show you how to keep warm under canvas even if the temperature outside has dipped to brass monkey level.
1997 Empire Sept. 104/2 The Garden Cinema in Hull..was closed due to the brass monkeys-style air conditioning provided by the whipping wind.
P2. Colloquial phrase to come (also get) down to brass tacks (or nails): to concern oneself with basic facts or realities. Originally U.S.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > understanding > reason, faculty of reasoning > common sense > be sensible [phrase]
on one's feetOE
an old head on (also upon) young shoulders1591
to know enough to come in out of the rain1599
to have the (good) sense to (do something)1620
to have a (good, wise, etc.) head on (also upon) one's shoulders1659
to know enough to come (or go) in when it rains1797
to come (also get) down to brass tacks (or nails)1897
1897 H. A. Jones Liars i. 23 Come down to brass tacks. What's going to be the end of this?
1903 N.Y. Sun 28 Nov. 3 This bold sister was the first..to get down to brass tacks in a discussion of the scandal.
1904 G. H. Lorimer Old Gorgon Graham 217 I cut it short there, and asked her to get down to brass tacks, as I was very busy.
1911 H. Quick Yellowstone Nights xi. 288 When you come down to brass nails.
1927 Daily Express 20 June 2 (advt.) Let's get down to Brass Tacks.
1932 T. S. Eliot Sweeney Agonistes 25 That's all the facts when you come to brass tacks: Birth, and copulation, and death.
1953 L. A. G. Strong Personal Remarks 10 When we put theories aside, and come down to brass tacks.
Compounds
C1. Simple attributive: (Made) of brass, brazen.In former times sometimes united with hyphen.
ΚΠ
1408 in F. J. Furnivall Fifty Earliest Eng. Wills (1882) 15 A bras pot.
1420 in F. J. Furnivall Fifty Earliest Eng. Wills (1882) 46 1 petit brase morter.
1475 Bk. Noblesse 84 Alle othir golde, silver, and brasse money.
1650 R. Stapleton tr. F. Strada De Bello Belgico x. 3 15 great Brasse-Cannon.
1652 Severall Proc. Parl. No. 134. 2081 5 small brasse guns.
1710 T. Hearne Remarks & Coll. (1886) II. 363 The Antients us'd Brass Arms before Iron ones.
1735 J. Swift Humble Addr. to Parl. in Wks. IV. 233 Whoever received or uttered Brass Coin.
1755 Stow's Survey of London (ed. 6) II. v. xvii. 363/2 We receive..also, Whale-bone, Train Oil, Brass Battery.
1777 Ann. Reg. 1776 36/1 Brass field pieces.
1876 H. N. Humphreys Coin Coll. Man. xvi. 196 Not worth a brass button.
C2. General combinations.
a. Objective.
(a)
brass-caster n.
brass-finisher n.
brass-founder n.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > worker > workers according to type of work > manual or industrial worker > workers with specific materials > metalworker > [noun] > brass-workers
brazierc1440
braser1465
brass-founder1601
brass-worker1723
brass-smith1834
lathe-man1893
1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World II. 486 A third society..of brasse-founders.
brass-foundry n.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > workplace > places for working with specific materials > place for working with metal > [noun] > for founding > types of
iron foundry1686
brass-foundry1716
1716 London Gaz. No. 5450/3 A Brass Foundery is..building at Woolwich.
(b)
brass-finishing adj.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > industry > working with specific materials > working with metal > [adjective] > other metalworking processes
brass-finishing1879
basic1880
Mannesmann1920
thermomechanical1974
1879 Argus (Melbourne) 24 Dec. 2/1 The same rates are paid in the fine brassfinishing shops.
brass-renting adj.
ΚΠ
1591 R. Greene Maiden's Dreame in Wks. (1881–3) XIV. 306 Brass-renting Goddesse, she cannot lament.
b. Instrumental.
brass-armed adj.
brass-bound adj. figurative
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > fastening > binding or tying > [adjective] > binding > bound > with specific material
iron-bound1381
iron-boundenc1400
wood-bound1570
wax-ended1839
brass-bound1867
1867 W. Morris Life & Death of Jason vi. 110 The brass-bound tiller.
1901 Daily Chron. 29 Aug. 3/1 The soldierly old brass-bound General.
1913 W. de la Mare Peacock Pie 88 His brass-bound cart.
Thesaurus »
brass-mounted adj.
brass-shapen adj.
ΚΠ
1582 R. Stanyhurst tr. Virgil First Foure Bookes Æneis ii. 42 Brandisht tergats, and brasshapen harneise.
c. Similative.
brass-bold adj.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pride > impudence > [adjective]
thristec897
bolda1000
keen1297
apert1330
smartc1400
malaperta1425
overbolda1425
affronted1485
saucy1511
impertinata1525
over-familiar1529
pert1535
cocket1537
cockapert1556
contumelious1561
impudent1563
brass-bold1582
pertlike1582
paughtya1586
audacious1586
copped1597
effronted1598
petulant1598
dortya1605
rufty-tufty1606
facy1607
snappish1608
bold-faceda1616
over-pert1621
impertinent1631
procacious1660
insolent1678
calleting1691
effrontuousa1734
imperent1771
free1775
sassy1799
pawky1809
iron-sideda1825
gilpie1835
cheeky1838
fresh1843
snouty1858
nebby1873
gay1889
nebsy1894
nervy1896
brass neck1925
facety1928
facey1929
brass-necked1935
chutzpadik1959
1582 R. Stanyhurst tr. Virgil First Foure Bookes Æneis ii. 24 A brasse bold merchaunt in causes dangerus hardye.
1880 G. M. Hopkins Poems (1967) 88 Now the other was bráss-bóld.
brass-bright adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > intensity of light > [adjective] > bright > as or with specific things
steel-brighta1560
eyebright1607
butter-bright1868
brass-bright1908
1908 T. Hardy Dynasts: Pt. 3rd v. vi. 224 The flames making the faces of the crowd brass-bright.
brass-coloured adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > colour > named colours > yellow or yellowness > [adjective] > brassy yellow
brazen1596
brassy1789
aeneous1847
brass-coloured1851
1851 J. Ruskin King Golden River i A very large nose, slightly brass-coloured.
brass-like adj.
d. Parasynthetic.
brass-browed adj.
ΚΠ
1630 W. Prynne Anti-Arminianisme 238 Dare..any brasse-browed Arminian be so shamelessly absurd.
brass-cheeked adj.
ΚΠ
1726 A. Pope tr. Homer Odyssey V. xxiv. 607 The brass-cheek'd helmet.
brass-footed adj.
ΚΠ
1632 R. Burton Anat. Melancholy (ed. 4) iii. ii. iv. 548 Medea..taught him how to tame the fire breathing brasse feeted Bulls.
brass-fronted adj.
brass-handled adj.
brass-headed adj. (also †brass-head)
ΚΠ
1613 T. Heywood Brazen Age ii. ii, in Wks. (1874) III. 212 And these our brasse-head buls.
brass-hilted adj.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > sharp weapon > side arms > sword > [adjective] > having specific hilt
silver-hilted1002
basket-hiltc1550
basket-hilted1600
cross-hilted1661
brass-hilted1692
brazen-hilted1726
1692 London Gaz. No. 2804/4 A Brass-hilted Sword.
brass-hooved adj.
ΚΠ
1598 G. Chapman tr. Homer Seauen Bks. Iliades viii. 36 His brass-hooved winged horse.
brass-plated adj.
brass-scaly adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > animal body > general parts > covering or skin > [adjective] > having a hard protective covering > having scales > having brazen scales
brass-scaly1590
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. xi. sig. K8 His long bras-scaly back.
brass-studded adj.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > types of ornamentation > [adjective] > studded or set with ornaments
studdeda1425
bright-studdeda1560
bossed1586
bestudded1601
pinned1688
brass-studded1858
1858 H. W. Longfellow Courtship Miles Standish iv. 53 A Bible, Ponderous, bound in leather, brass-studded, printed in Holland.
brass-tipped adj.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > types of ornamentation > [adjective] > tipped, edged, or mounted
brass-tipped1862
befringed1884
brass-mounted-
1862 H. Mayhew & J. Binny Criminal Prisons of London 32 Gaugers with their brass-tipped rules.
C3. Special combinations and phrases:† ˈbrasscut n. Obsolete a copperplate engraving (cf. woodcut n.).† brass-face n. Obsolete an impudent person. † brass-leaf n. Obsolete = brasscut n.
brass band n. a band of musicians with wind instruments of brass.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > musician > instrumentalist > company of instrumentalists > [noun] > band > type of
waits1298
consort1587
wait player1610
wind music1650
the fiddles1676
military band1775
German band1819
street band1826
brass band1834
promenade band1836
horn-band1849
pipe band1867
wind-band1876
Hungarian band1882
jazz band1916
jazz orchestra1916
big band1919
road band1922
Schrammel quartet1924
showband1926
spasm band1926
dance-band1927
marching band1930
name band1932
ork1933
silver band1933
sweet band1935
Schrammel orchestra1938
pop band1942
jug band1946
steel band1949
rehearsal band1957
skiffle band1957
ghost band1962
support band1969
support group1969
scratch band1982
1834 C. Brontë in W. Gérin C. Brontë (1967) vi. 84 There are to be five brass bands each consisting of two trumpets, three bombardones, [etc.].
1837 N. Hawthorne in U.S. Mag. & Democratic Rev. Oct. 35 A company of summer soldiers,.. attended by the ‘brass band’.
1849 Theatrical Programme 9 July 44 The Brass Band on the Lawn will perform an admired Selection of Popular Overtures.
1861 N. Brit. Rev. Nov. 392 The gentlemen of the Brass Band.
1871 M. Collins Marquis & Merchant II. vi. 170 The brass band plays horribly.
brass bason n. a basin of brass, also figurative a barber or surgeon barber.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > healing > healer > surgeon > [noun] > barber-surgeon
brass bason1598
razor-chirurgeon1624
1598 Bp. J. Hall Virgidemiarum: 3 Last Bks. iv. i. 12 Eseulape! how rife is Phisicke made When ech Brasse-basen can professe the trade.
brass-blacking n. a dead black surface given to brass ornaments by treatment with chemicals.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > colour > named colours > black or blackness > black thing or matter > [noun] > black surface
brass-blackinga1884
a1884 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. Suppl. 129/2 Brass-blacking, a dead black color; used freely with French optical instruments.
brass-bounder n. (a) see quot. 1890; (b) an apprentice on board ships of English companies, so called from the brass on his uniform.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > hostilities at sea > seafaring warrior or naval man > leader or commander > [noun] > naval officer > midshipman
midships man1626
midshipman1652
mid1750
reefer1800
middy1818
midshipmite1834
ensign1886
brass-bounder1890
snotty1903
dogsbody1917
society > travel > travel by water > one who travels by water or sea > sailor > types of sailor > [noun] > young or inexperienced sailor > apprentice
brass-bounder1890
poop-ornament1902
1890 J. S. Farmer Slang 318 Brass-Bounder (nautical), a midshipman.
1927 Blackwood's Mag. Sept. 374/2 There were none but sailors, brass-bounders, stewards.
brass-colour n. (a) a preparation used to colour objects to resemble brass; (b) a preparation of oxidized brass used to stain glass to various tints of blue and green.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > colour > named colours > yellow or yellowness > colouring matter > [noun] > dyes and dyestuffs
weldc1374
turmeric1545
yellow berry1652
fust1682
Avignon berry1728
eel-pout1736
yellowroot1755
quercitron1785
brass-colour1797
fustet1821
tesu1823
morin1833
datiscin1835
maize1838
picric acid1838
xanthin1838
moric acid1839
purree1844
nitrophenisic acid1845
rubiacin1848
flavin1853
orellin1857
fustic1858
maize colour1859
fusteric1860
Manchester yellow1862
chrysaniline1864
ilixanthin1865
flavaniline1882
sun-yellow1884
butter yellow1887
African turmeric1888
Indian turmeric1890
weld yellow1899
the world > matter > colour > named colours > blue or blueness > blue colouring matter > [noun] > stain
brass-colour1797
the world > matter > colour > named colours > green or greenness > green colouring matter > [noun] > pigment or dye > stains
brass-colour1797
Janus green1898
1797 Encycl. Brit. III. 519/2 The finest brass-colour is made with powder brass.., diluted into a varnish.
1839 A. Ure Dict. Arts 169 Brass Colour..is prepared by exposing for several days thin plates of brass upon tiles in the leer or annealing arch of the glass-house, till it be oxidized into a black powder.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > printmaking > engraving > intaglio printing > [noun] > copperplate engraving > an engraving
brass-leaf1654
copperplate1663
brasscuta1680
copper-cut1688
a1680 J. Bargrave Pope Alexander VII (1867) i. xxxiv. 70 With all the scenes in excellent brasscutts.
brass edge n. (see quot.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > instruments for measuring time > watch > [noun] > parts of
barrel1591
motion1605
bezel1616
fusee1622
string1638
crown wheel1646
out-case1651
watch-box1656
nuck1664
watchwork1667
balance-wheel1669
box1675
dial wheel1675
counter-potence1678
pendulum-balance1680
watch-case1681
pillar1684
contrate teeth1696
pinion of report1696
watch-hook1698
bob-balance1701
half-cock1701
potence1704
verge1704
pad1705
movable1709
jewel1711
pendant1721
crystal1722
watch-key1723
pendulum spring1728
lock spring1741
watch-glass1742
watch-spring1761
all-or-nothing piece1764
watch hand1764
cylinder1765
cannon?1780
cannon1802
stackfreed1819
pillar plate1821
little hand1829
hair-spring1830
lunette1832
all-or-nothing1843
locking1851
slag1857
staff1860
case spring1866
stem1866
balance-cock1874
watch-dial1875
balance-spring1881
balance-staff1881
Breguet spring1881
overcoil1881
surprise-piece1881
brass edge1884
button turn1884
fourth wheel1884
fusee-sink1884
pair-case1884
silver bar1884
silver piece1884
slang1884
top plate1884
karrusel1893
watch-face1893
watch bracelet1896
bar-movement1903
jewel pivot1907
jewel bearing1954
1884 F. J. Britten Watch & Clockmakers' Handbk. (new ed.) 36 Brass Edge, in common watch movements, a brass rim fitted round the pillar plate.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pride > impudence > [noun] > impudent person
bolda1400
capron hardya1477
malaperta1529
jackanapes1534
past-shame1553
saucea1556
saucy-face1566
outfacer1579
impudent1586
Jack sauce?1590
brazen-face1602
impertinence1611
impertinent1612
insolency1613
insolenta1616
brass-face1647
flapsea1652
impudence1671
bold-face1692
ironface1697
Corinthian1699
scandal-proof1699
saucy-box1702
busker1728
insolence1740
effronterist1776
pert1785
nash-gab1816
card1853
pawk1855
sass-box1856
a one1880
cockapert1881
1647 W. Lilly Christian Astrol. cvii. 538 An impudent fellow, a Brasse-face, yet of good understanding.
brass farthing n. an emphatic equivalent of farthing in depreciatory expressions.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > money > sum of money > [noun] > small sum > coin as type of
pennya1225
sumc1300
mitea1375
minutec1384
groat1513
souse1570
widow's mite1572
stivera1640
brass farthing1642
shilling1737
rap1778
skilligalee1834
skillick1835
steever1892
razoo1919
1642 D. Rogers Naaman 33 As bare and beggarly as if he had not one brasse farthing.
1879 W. Besant & J. Rice Seamy Side in Time I. 454 I care not one brass farthing.
brass-foil n.
brass hat n. [so called from the gilt insignia on an officer's cap] colloquial (originally Military slang) a high-ranking officer in the armed forces, originally in the British army; cf. tin hat n. 1b.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > warrior > soldier > leader or commander > officer or soldier of rank > [noun] > high-ranking officer
marshal general1594
brass hat1887
tin hat1916
1887 Belfast News-let. 16 Mar. 7/4 Three officers..are to be tried by general court-martial for practical joking to a most unwarrantable extent with one of the brass hats of Dublin—we mean a staff officer.
1904 Def. Duffer's Drift 16 Whether some ‘brass hat’ might not come round and inspect us next day.
1927 Bulletin 22 Sept. 5/2 A Rolls-Royce car containing two military ‘brass-hats’.
1940 War Illustr. 5 Jan. 546/1 No one today hears sarcastic reference to ‘brass hats’, the traditional term for the staff officers of the High Command.
1999 Taxi Talk Oct. (Northern ed.) 3/2 During the First World War countless thousands of troops were sacrificed before the brass hats realised that wholesale slaughter was a waste of resources.
brass-hatted adj. wearing a brass hat; esp. with reference (frequently depreciative) to high-ranking officers in the armed forces (cf. brass hat n.).
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > warrior > soldier > leader or commander > officer or soldier of rank > [adjective] > high-ranking
high-ranking1850
brass-hatted1858
five-star1942
two-star1951
1858 Freeman's Jrnl. (Dublin) 10 Nov. 3/7 The blue-coated, pewter-buttoned, brass-hatted army is upon them in a moment.
1887 Army & Navy Mag. Dec. 191 Quartermaster-generals and similar brass-hatted officials were fussing about.
1903 R. Kipling Traffics & Discov. (1904) 73 There's a crowd of brass-'atted blighters there which will say I've been absent without leaf.
1917 ‘Taffrail’ Off Shore 82 The brass-hatted potentate who regards our quarterly list of breakages with a horny and unsympathetic eye.
1924 B. Willson Redemption v. viii. 391 These brass-hatted popinjays.
2008 Canberra Times (Nexis) 22 Jan. a11 The failure didn't originate in the minds of the brass-hatted generals wandering the long, sterile corridors of the Pentagon.
brass-helmeted adj. wearing a brass helmet.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > armour > helmet > [adjective]
helmedc1275
saletted1455
helmeted1552
galeated1761
casqued1816
brass-helmeted1897
1897 Westm. Gaz. 22 Nov. 9/1 The brass-helmeted firemen.
1904 Westm. Gaz. 26 Apr. 5/1 At times the great masses of fire seemed to envelop the brass-helmeted men.
brass-latten n. Dutch leaf or Dutch gold made by beating out plates of brass very thin.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > metal > alloy > [noun] > brass > types of
maslinOE
latten1340
messing1371
orichalcc1429
shruff1541
black latten1545
mellay1545
medley brass1600
medley1601
shaven latten1660
latten-brass1677
brass-latten1678
similor1778
pig brass1841
Muntz metal1842
button brass1849
oreide1857
voltaic brass1860
semilor1866
naval brass1881
1678 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises I. iii. 51 A thin peece of Brass lattin.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > printmaking > engraving > intaglio printing > [noun] > copperplate engraving > an engraving
brass-leaf1654
copperplate1663
brasscuta1680
copper-cut1688
1654 E. Gayton Pleasant Notes Don Quixot iii. i. 66 In the book..a great Cut or Brasse leafe.
brass lump n. a miners' term for massive iron pyrites or marcasite.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > minerals > types of mineral > sulphides and related minerals > [noun] > marcasite or related minerals
marcasite?c1425
pyrites1567
marcasin1601
Jew's stone1617
copperas-stone1640
brass lump1675
spear pyrites1837
1675 Philos. Trans. 1674 (Royal Soc.) 9 222 Pieces of the ordinary Fire~stones or Marcasite of the Coal-pits which here we call Brass-lumps.
1758 J. Walker in Philos. Trans. 1757 (Royal Soc.) 50 146 It is..exceeding ponderous, and of a shining yellow colour, and is called by the miners brass lumps.
brass-man n. one who plays a brass musical instrument.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > musician > instrumentalist > wind player > [noun] > brass-player
brass-man1872
1872 T. Hardy Under Greenwood Tree I. i. iv. 50 They should ha' stuck to strings. Your brass-man, is brass—well and good; your reed-man, is reed—well and good.
1958 B. Rust in P. Gammond Decca Bk. of Jazz iv. 60 These two fine brassmen made good jazz.
brass monkey weather n. (see Phrases 1).
brass nail n. [rhyming slang for tail n.1] a prostitute.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > moral evil > licentiousness > unchastity > prostitution > [noun] > a prostitute
meretrixOE
whoreOE
soiled dovea1250
common womanc1330
putec1384
bordel womanc1405
putaina1425
brothelc1450
harlot?a1475
public womanc1510
naughty pack?1529
draba1533
cat1535
strange woman1535
stew1552
causey-paikera1555
putanie?1566
drivelling1570
twigger1573
punka1575
hackney1579
customer1583
commodity1591
streetwalker1591
traffic1591
trug1591
hackster1592
polecat1593
stale1593
mermaid1595
medlar1597
occupant1598
Paphian1598
Winchester goose1598
pagan1600
hell-moth1602
aunt1604
moll1604
prostitution1605
community1606
miss1606
night-worm1606
bat1607
croshabell1607
prostitute1607
pug1607
venturer1607
nag1608
curtal1611
jumbler1611
land-frigate1611
walk-street1611
doll-common1612
turn-up1612
barber's chaira1616
commonera1616
public commonera1616
trader1615
venturea1616
stewpot1616
tweak1617
carry-knave1623
prostibule1623
fling-dusta1625
mar-taila1625
night-shadea1625
waistcoateera1625
night trader1630
coolera1632
meretrician1631
painted ladya1637
treadle1638
buttock1641
night-walker1648
mob?1650
lady (also girl, etc.) of the game1651
lady of pleasure1652
trugmullion1654
fallen woman1659
girlc1662
high-flyer1663
fireship1665
quaedama1670
small girl1671
visor-mask1672
vizard-mask1672
bulker1673
marmalade-madam1674
town miss1675
town woman1675
lady of the night1677
mawks1677
fling-stink1679
Whetstone whore1684
man-leech1687
nocturnal1693
hack1699
strum1699
fille de joie1705
market-dame1706
screw1725
girl of (the) town1733
Cytherean1751
street girl1764
monnisher1765
lady of easy virtue1766
woman (also lady) of the town1766
kennel-nymph1771
chicken1782
stargazer1785
loose fish1809
receiver general1811
Cyprian1819
mollya1822
dolly-mop1834
hooker1845
charver1846
tail1846
horse-breaker1861
professional1862
flagger1865
cocodette1867
cocotte1867
queen's woman1871
common prostitute1875
joro1884
geisha1887
horizontal1888
flossy1893
moth1896
girl of the pavement1900
pross1902
prossie1902
pusher1902
split-arse mechanic1903
broad1914
shawl1922
bum1923
quiff1923
hustler1924
lady of the evening1924
prostie1926
working girl1928
prostisciutto1930
maggie1932
brass1934
brass nail1934
mud kicker1934
scupper1935
model1936
poule de luxe1937
pro1937
chromo1941
Tom1941
pan-pan1949
twopenny upright1958
scrubber1959
slack1959
yum-yum girl1960
Suzie Wong1962
mattress1964
jamette1965
ho1966
sex worker1971
pavement princess1976
parlour girl1979
crack whore1990
1934 P. Allingham Cheapjack 317 Brass (Brassnail), prostitute.
1938 F. D. Sharpe Sharpe of Flying Squad i. 15 Ladies whom the Underworld calls ‘brass nails’.
brass plate n. †(a) copperplate for engraving (obsolete); (b) a plate of brass, bearing an inscription, e.g. on or at a door or gate, bearing the resident's name; also a monumental ‘brass’ (sense 2a).
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > printmaking > engraving > intaglio printing > [noun] > copperplate engraving > material
brass plate1663
copper1668
copperplate1668
society > communication > writing > written text > an inscription > [noun] > inscribed tablet, slab, or plate
tableOE
tabletc1350
titlea1382
tablature1578
aback1592
plate1668
breastplate1773
stela1776
stele1820
brass plate1836
palimpsest1876
plaque1922
society > communication > indication > that which identifies or distinguishes > labelling > [noun] > label, tag, or ticket > name plate
door-plate1823
brass plate1836
nameplate1858
scutcheon1875
1663 Marquis of Worcester Cent. Names & Scantlings Inventions §100 All..of these Inventions..shall be Printed by Brass-plates.
1771 Encycl. Brit. III. 511/1 The compositor..puts..this slip of brass-plate..in the composing-stick.
1836 C. Dickens Sketches by Boz 1st Ser. I. 96 A brass-plate on the private door with ‘Ladies School’ legibly engraved thereon.
1860 E. C. Gaskell Right at Last 34 I saw a brass-plate with Doctor James Brown upon it.
1894 H. Caine Manxman v. vi A line of houses having brass plates.
brass-plater n. slang a man of the merchant class.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > worker > workers according to type of work > non-manual worker > [noun] > professional
brass-plater1921
1921 Glasgow Herald 9 Apr. 6 Steelworkers and bankers, ship-platers and ‘brass-platers’, ‘workers’ and ‘parasites’, we shall all have to take off our coats.
1927 Scots Observer 16 July 9/1 Brass-platers and fund-eaters are living spaciously in the southern counties of England.
brass-powder n. a powder consisting of copper or one of its alloys used in varnish.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > metal > base metal > [noun] > copper > powder of copper
brass-powder1839
1839 A. Ure Dict. Arts 169 Only so much of the brass powder and varnish should be mixed at a time as is wanted for immediate use.
brass-rag n. in slang phr. (originally Nautical slang) to part brass-rags, to quarrel.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > dissent > quarrel or quarrelling > quarrel [verb (intransitive)]
threapc1175
disputea1225
thretec1400
varyc1450
fray1465
to fall out1470
to set (or fall) at variancec1522
quarrel1530
square1530
to break a straw1542
to be or to fall at (a) square1545
to fall at jar1552
cowl1556
tuilyie1565
jarl1580
snarl1597
to fall foul1600
to cast out1730
fisticuff1833
spat1848
cagmag1882
rag1889
to part brass-rags1898
hassle1949
blue1955
1898 W. P. Drury Tadpole of Archangel 141 The graceful figures stiffened, passing each other with..eyes fixed on futurity... ‘Don't you know that we've parted brassrags?’
1898 W. P. Drury Tadpole of Archangel 142 When ‘Pincher’ Martin, Ordinary, and ‘Nobby’ Clarke, A.B., desire to prove the brotherly love..with which each inspires the other, it is their..custom to keep their brasswork cleaning rags in a joint ragbag. But, should relations..become strained between them, the bag owner casts forth upon the deck..his sometime brother's rags; and with the parting of the brassrags hostilities begin.
1903 R. Kipling Traffics & Discov. (1904) 49 You'll shut your mouth..or you an' me'll part brass rags.
1916 Punch 186/2 They had ‘parted brass-rags’ over Gallipoli, it was true.
1922 C. Sidgwick Victorian vii If you dare to use that word flapper in my hearing..we part brass rags.
1959 Economist 14 Mar. 979/2 He seems to have finally parted brass rags with the Arab nationalists and President Nasser.
brass-rubber n.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > printmaking > brass-rubbing > [noun] > person
rubber1840
brass-rubber1856
1856 Athenæum 17 May 626 The quiet haunts of the brass-rubber.
brass-rubbing n. the process of rubbing a brass (see rub v.1 11); also, the impression thus obtained.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > printmaking > brass-rubbing > [noun]
brass-rubbing1886
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > printmaking > brass-rubbing > [noun] > impression
rubbing1833
brass-rubbing1886
1886 C. M. Yonge Chantry House II. xiv. 135 Her greatest achievement in brass-rubbing, a severe and sable knight.
1890 H. W. Macklin Monumental Brasses ii. 27 Brass-rubbings are greatly improved by being mounted.
1893 Girl's Own Paper May (heading) Brasses and Brass-Rubbing.
1897 (title) The Oxford Journal of Monumental Brasses, being the Journal of the Oxford University Brass-Rubbing Society.
1952 E. Coxhead Play Toward ii. 68 He'd cycled over with one of your girls, and they were taking brass rubbings in the church.
brass rule n. a strip of brass, type-high, used to separate lines or columns of type.
ˈbrass-smith n. an artificer in brass.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > worker > workers according to type of work > manual or industrial worker > workers with specific materials > metalworker > [noun] > brass-workers
brazierc1440
braser1465
brass-founder1601
brass-worker1723
brass-smith1834
lathe-man1893
1834 T. Carlyle Sartor Resartus ii. iv, in Fraser's Mag. Feb. 191/1 Has he not seen the Scottish Brassmith's [sic] Idea?
ˈbrass-work n. artificers' work in brass; plural an establishment for making or working in brass.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > workplace > places for working with specific materials > place for working with metal > [noun] > other metals
goldwork1581
copper-work1631
brass-work1665
silver-work1674
copper-works1716
lead-worksa1728
goldsmithy1878
society > occupation and work > industry > working with specific materials > working with metal > [noun] > alloying > brass-making > product of
brass-work1665
braziery1795
1665 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 1 25 In the Brass-works of Tivoli.
1689 London Gaz. No. 2509/4 Black Japan Gilt Brass-work.
1761 J. Wesley Jrnl. 13 Sept. Employed in the neighbouring brass-works.
1807 Ann. Reg. 1805 (Otridge ed.) Chron. 378/1 The brass work being over-heated.
ˈbrass-worker n. an artificer in brass.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > worker > workers according to type of work > manual or industrial worker > workers with specific materials > metalworker > [noun] > brass-workers
brazierc1440
braser1465
brass-founder1601
brass-worker1723
brass-smith1834
lathe-man1893
1723 London Gaz. No. 6171/10 Benjamin Gibbons..Brassworker.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1888; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
brassv.1
/brɑːs/, /bras/, U.S. /bræs/ 1.
a. transitive. To coat with brass by electro-plating or otherwise.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > industry > working with specific materials > working with metal > work with metal [verb (transitive)] > coat or cover with metal > with specific metal
tin1398
leadc1440
ironc1450
lay1472
copper1530
braze1552
silverize1605
foliate1665
plate1686
whiten1687
foil1714
blanch1729
quicken1738
amalgam1789
quick1790
aluminize1791
plate1791
zincify1801
platinize1825
resilver1832
galvanize1839
electroplate1843
zinc1843
electro-silver1851
platinate1858
electrotin1859
white-lead1863
palladiumize1864
white-metal1864
brassc1865
nickelize1865
nickel-plate1872
nickel1875
stopper1884
electro1891
sherardize1904
steel1911
stellite1934
flame-plate1954
steel-face1961
c1865 G. Gore in J. Wylde Circle of Sci. I. 213/1 Solutions used for coppering or brassing iron.
c1865 G. Gore in J. Wylde Circle of Sci. I. 222/1 Copper articles may be superficially brassed.
b. figurative. To cover with effrontery. to brass it (colloquial): to put on a face of brass, to behave with effrontery.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pride > impudence > treat impudently [verb (transitive)] > make shameless
braze1608
depudorate1678
brass1859
1859 Times 18 Mar. 8/6 To wipe his mouth and brass his brow, and charge us with underrating our fellow countrymen.
2. intransitive. To pay up. Also transitive. slang.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > payment > pay [verb (intransitive)] > pay up or out
to shell out1821
dub1823
stump1828
to stump up1836
tip1847
cash1854
to ante up1861
to fund up1888
pony1894
brass1898
cough1920
to pay up1941
to dig down1942
society > trade and finance > payment > pay money or things [verb (transitive)] > pay up or out
to pay out1438
to pay over1668
to shell down1801
pony1819
tip1829
to fork out, over, or up1831
to stump up1833
to put up1838
stump1841
pungle1851
to ante up1880
cough1894
to peg out1895
brass1898
1898 J. D. Brayshaw Slum Silhouettes 147 Now..p'raps you'll pay the man. Go on—brass up!
1898 J. D. Brayshaw Slum Silhouettes 150 Along comes Mister Internashonal, an' brasses up every stiver o' that twenty-eight quid.
1939 F. Thompson Lark Rise vi. 119 Husbands and sons at work ‘brassed up’ on Friday nights.
1949 P. G. Wodehouse Mating Season viii. 79 What did he soak him? Five quid?.. And Gussie brassed up and was free?
3. slang (originally Services' slang).
a. (See quot. 1925.)
ΚΠ
1925 E. Fraser & J. Gibbons Soldier & Sailor Words 35 To brass off: to grumble.
b. (See quot. 1943.)
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disapproval > rebuke or reproof > rebuke or reprove [verb (transitive)] > severely
dressc1405
wipe1523
to take up1530
whip1530
to shake upa1556
trounce1607
castigatea1616
lasha1616
objurgate1616
thunderstrike1638
snub1672
drape1683
cut1737
rowa1798
score1812
to dress down1823
to pitch into ——1823
wig1829
to row (a person) up1838
to catch or get Jesse1839
slate1840
drop1853
to drop (down) to or on (to)1859
to give (a person) rats1862
to jump upon1868
to give (a person) fits1871
to give it to someone (pretty) stiff1880
lambaste1886
ruck1899
bollock1901
bawl1903
scrub1911
burn1914
to hang, draw, and quarter1930
to tear a strip off1940
to tear (someone) off a strip1940
brass1943
rocket1948
bitch1952
tee1955
fan-
1943 J. L. Hunt & A. G. Pringle Service Slang 16 The verb brass off means to tell off severely.
1964 V. Canning Scorpio Lett. iv. 75 After I'd brassed you off for pinching my parking space.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1888; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
† brassv.2
Obsolete. rare.
? To burn, to scorch.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > heating or making hot > subjection or exposure to heat or fire > be subjected or exposed to heat or fire [verb (intransitive)] > suffer damage or injury by heat or fire > be scorched
scorkenc1175
snarchea1200
scorchc1430
brass1481
scald1513
bristle1788
grill1842
1481 W. Caxton tr. Myrrour of Worlde iii. xv. 167 They rested them not by the grete fyres ne brassed not as som doo now.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1888; most recently modified version published online June 2021).
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