brat

American  

[brat] / bræt /

noun

1. a child, especially an annoying, spoiled, or impolite child (usually used in contempt or irritation).

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brat ¹ British  

/ bræt /

noun

1. a child, esp one who is ill-mannered or unruly: used contemptuously or playfully

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brat ² British  

/ bræt /

noun

1. dialect an apron or overall

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Other Word Forms

• brattish adjective

Etymology

Origin of brat

First recorded in 1500–20; perhaps transferred use of Middle English brat “cloak of coarse cloth, rag,” Old English bratt “cloak,” from Celtic; compare Irish brat “mantle, cloak”

Example Sentences

When you’re at the top, as Charli XCX was a year and a half ago at the peak of “brat summer,” the only path ahead is a tightrope between cool and cringe.

From Los Angeles Times

"Right now, like the 'me' in the film, I am really wanting 'brat' to stop and actually really pivot as far away from it as possible," she said.

From Barron's

Why am I being such a brat about this?

From Literature

I celebrated a rail trip across Germany, for instance, with an Oktoberfest-style meal of brats and sauerkraut purchased from my local German butcher.

From The Wall Street Journal

Every holiday season, my mom likes to remind me of how much of a brat I could be during Christmastime when I was a kid.

From Salon

Related Words

• punk
• rascal