brassard

American  

[bras-ahrd, bruh-sahrd] / ˈbræs ɑrd, brəˈsɑrd /

noun

1. a decorative cloth band, often braided or tasseled, worn around the upper arm, as by military personnel to signify a particular group, regiment, etc.

2. Also brassart a piece of plate armor for the arm.

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brassard British  

/ ˈbræsət, ˈbræsɑːd /

noun

1. an identifying armband or badge

2. a piece of armour for the upper arm

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Etymology

Origin of brassard

1820–30; < French, equivalent to bras arm ( see brace) + -ard -ard

Example Sentences

They will be subject to regular Army regulations, and will wear overseas caps with a red and green patch and a green arm brassard bearing in white letters the word: "Italy."

From Time Magazine Archive

In April 1917, Colonel Lossberg was rewarded with the job of Ludendorff's Chief of Staff, and even though 18 months later his fortifications had fallen and his cause was lost, he had earned his brassard.

From Time Magazine Archive

Wearing the blue-and-white brassard of the L. C. are whole battalions of engineers and firemen, bridge-builders, signal-men, freight handlers, clerks, and navvies, all of them experts at their particular jobs.

From Italy at War and the Allies in the West by Powell, E. Alexander (Edward Alexander)

The colour was a vivid red crown on a khaki brassard on the young man's arm.

From If Winter Comes by Hutchinson, A. S. M. (Arthur Stuart-Menteth)

We were so accustomed to them that we did not take much notice, and I just showed my Red Cross brassard as I had been accustomed to do in Charleroi when stopped.

From Field Hospital and Flying Column Being the Journal of an English Nursing Sister in Belgium & Russia by Thurstan, Violetta