brawn
[brawn]
- strong, well-developed muscles.
- muscular strength.
- Chiefly British.
- a boar's or swine's flesh, especially when boiled and pickled.
- headcheese.
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Origin of brawn
1275–1325; Middle English brawne < Old French braon slice of flesh (Provençal bradon) < Germanic; compare German Braten joint of meat, akin to Old English brǣd flesh
Synonyms
See more synonyms for brawn on Thesaurus.com2. brawniness, robustness, muscle, sturdiness, might, power.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for brawn
Contemporary Examples
As governor of California, Schwarzenegger himself demonstrated the limits of American brawn.
This is the place where automakers show off brawn, power, and sex appeal.
Historical Examples
And now, fair sir, I must hasten back to see how my rogues have fared with the brawn.
The White CompanyArthur Conan Doyle
Most of them are slaves specially chosen for their brawn, and I cannot spare any.
The Sea-HawkRaphael Sabatini
Combine your brawn with my brains, now, and do as I say—if you will I promise you freedom.
Vulcan's WorkshopHarl Vincent
With all his brain and brawn, his real greatness was in his heart.
The Story of Young Abraham LincolnWayne Whipple
In this he pleased Mr. Cinch, who was by no means all a man of beef and brawn.
Tin-Types Taken in the Streets of New YorkLemuel Ely Quigg
brawn
- strong well-developed muscles
- physical strength, esp as opposed to intelligence
- British a seasoned jellied loaf made from the head and sometimes the feet of a pig or calf
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Word Origin
C14: from Old French braon slice of meat, of Germanic origin; compare Old High German brāto, Old English brǣd flesh
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for brawn
n.
late 13c., from Old French braon "fleshy or muscular part, buttock," from Frankish *brado "ham, roast" or some other Germanic source, from Proto-Germanic *bred-on- (cf. Old High German brato "tender meat," German Braten "roast," Old Norse brað "raw meat," Old English bræd "flesh"), from PIE *bhre- "burn, heat," from root *bhreue- "to boil, bubble, effervesce, burn" (see brew (v.)). The original sense is "piece of meat suitable for roasting." "The specific sense 'boar's flesh' is exclusively of English development, and characteristic of English habits" [OED].
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper