brank
Americanverb (used without object)
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to hold up and toss the head, as a horse when spurning the bit or prancing.
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to bridle; restrain.
Etymology
Origin of brank
1500–50; brank ( def. 1 ) of uncertain origin; possibly related to German prangen “to adorn oneself, brag”; compare Middle High German brangen, brankieren; possibly 1550-1600; brank ( def. 2 ) of uncertain origin; probably a back formation from Scots branks “a bridle for restraining a scold”
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The Rector of Whitchurch has in his possession a brank, which was formerly used by the town and union authorities.
From Bygone Punishments by William Andrews
Dr. Brushfield describes this as "a respectable-looking brank."
From Bygone Punishments by William Andrews
By tradition this brank was angrily and insultingly given by a gentleman named Chester, who had through the lie of a gossiping woman of Walton lost an expected fortune.
From Curious Punishments of Bygone Days by Alice Morse Earle
The mode of putting it on would be thus: The brank would be opened by throwing back the sides of the hoop, and the hinder part of the top band by means of the hinges.
From Curious Punishments of Bygone Days by Alice Morse Earle
Here is a picture of a brank formerly in the possession of the late Mr. F. A. Carrington, the well-known antiquary.
From Bygone Punishments by William Andrews
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
