branding iron

American  

noun

1. a long-handled metal rod with a stamp at one end, used for branding livestock, especially cattle, with a registered or recognized symbol or character to indicate ownership.

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Etymology

Origin of branding iron

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

branding iron

As city librarian, he insisted that all Angelenos be allowed to use its collection and discouraged book theft by using a branding iron to burn “LA PUB LIBRARY” into books’ edges.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 19, 2022

There is a branding iron, a snake hook and an old chuck wagon dinner bell.

From Washington Times ● Jun. 7, 2019

But when you brand yourself 24/7/365, there’s a risk: The brand may start to feel like a branding iron.

From Washington Post ● Feb. 18, 2017

Chloé makes much of the fact that it has no curlicue C logo or other branding iron to stamp its product and, by extension, its clientele.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 28, 2016

Despite the sun bearing down like a branding iron, the market was crowded that day and sales had been strong—it was only 12:30 but we’d already made $160.

From "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini