Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for bray on Thesaurus.com the loud, harsh cry of a donkey. any similar loud, harsh sound. Show More
verb (used without object) to utter a loud and harsh cry, as a donkey. to make a loud, harsh, disagreeable sound. Show More
to utter with a loud, harsh sound, like a donkey. Show More
Origin of bray 1 1250–1300; Middle English brayen < Old French braire to cry out (cognate with Medieval Latin bragīre to neigh) < Celtic; compare Old Irish braigid (he) breaks wind
Can be confused braid brayed to pound or crush fine, as in a mortar. Printing to thin (ink) on a slate before placing on the ink plate of a press. Show More
Origin of bray 2 1350–1400; Middle English brayen <
Anglo-French bra(i)er, Old French broier <
Germanic; see
break Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for bray Contemporary Examples of bray Bray liked how it invoked the founding father “rising up from the grave.”
Bray said he knows everyone hates those bands, but that he still enjoys their music.
Bray selected a different student each time to lead the class in prayer and participated in the prayers herself.
The immigrant groups and unions were receptive, but Bray said Occupiers see a danger there.
Though the national media may bray and belittle her, they continue to pay attention to her.
Historical Examples of bray "I guess you'll not bray now," he remarked as he cut the rope.
Whether this caused it or not the boys could not tell, but the donkey did not bray after that.
He knew that Crews lived in Bray , but he had forgotten the address.
With a rusty sword and a moke on board to bray like the Horse Marines.
You may hear their bray in every café, and France is going to the devil.
Dross Henry Seton Merriman
British Dictionary definitions for bray (intr) (of a donkey) to utter its characteristic loud harsh sound; heehaw (intr) to make a similar sound, as in laughing he brayed at the joke (tr) to utter with a loud harsh sound Show More
the loud harsh sound uttered by a donkey a similar loud cry or uproar a bray of protest Show More
Derived Forms brayer , noun Word Origin for bray C13: from Old French braire , probably of Celtic origin
(tr) to distribute (ink) over printing type or plates (tr) to pound into a powder, as in a mortar Northern English dialect to hit or beat (someone or something) hard; bang Show More
Derived Forms brayer , noun Word Origin for bray C14: from Old French breier of Germanic origin; see break
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 bray v. c.1300, from Old French braire "to cry," from Gallo-Romance *bragire "to cry out," perhaps from a Celtic source (cf. Gaelic braigh "to shriek, crackle"), probably imitative. Related: Brayed ; braying .
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n. c.1300, from bray (v.).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
