definitions
  • synonyms

brig

[ brig ]
/ brɪg /
|
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR brig ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

Nautical.
  1. a two-masted vessel square-rigged on both masts.
  2. (formerly, in the U.S. Navy) an armed brig-rigged or brigantine-rigged vessel.
  3. the compartment of a ship where prisoners are confined.
a place of confinement or detention, especially in the U.S. Navy or Marines; guardhouse.

RELATED WORDS

stockade, prison, slammer, guardhouse

Nearby words

brienz, brier, brierroot, brierwood, brieux, brig, brig., brig. gen., brigade, brigadier, brigadier general

Origin of brig

First recorded in 1705–15; short for brigantine

Definition for brig (2 of 2)

Brig.

brigade.
brigadier.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for brig

British Dictionary definitions for brig (1 of 3)

brig

1
/ (brɪɡ) /

noun

nautical a two-masted square-rigger
mainly US a prison, esp in a navy ship

Word Origin for brig

C18: shortened from brigantine

British Dictionary definitions for brig (2 of 3)

brig

2
/ (brɪɡ) /

noun

a Scot and northern English word for a bridge 1

British Dictionary definitions for brig (3 of 3)

Brig.

abbreviation for

Brigadier
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for brig

brig

n.

1720, colloquial shortening of brigantine (q.v.). Apparently such vessels being used for prison ships upon retirement from active duty led to extended meaning "a jail," first recorded 1852.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper