brig
noun
brig
1 American
[brig]
/ brɪg /
noun
brigs
plural
-
Nautical.
-
a two-masted vessel square-rigged on both masts.
-
(formerly, in the U.S. Navy) an armed brig-rigged or brigantine-rigged vessel.
-
the compartment of a ship where prisoners are confined.
-
-
a place of confinement or detention, especially in the U.S. Navy or Marines; guardhouse.
Brig.
2
American
abbreviation
-
brigade.
-
brigadier.
brig
1
British
/ brɪɡ /
noun
-
nautical a two-masted square-rigger
-
a prison, esp in a navy ship
Brig.
2
British
abbreviation
brig
3
British
/ brɪɡ /
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of brig
First recorded in 1705–15; short for brigantine
Explanation
A brig is a prison, especially a naval or military prison. This meaning comes from the fact that two-masted warships known as brigs were historically used as floating prisons. The word brig is a shortened form of brigantine, "a small, two-masted ship" with large, square sails. These speedy sailing vessels were extremely common until the late 1800s, when steam ships became widely available. These days, most people in the U.S. think of a brig as a military prison, and if a Navy or Coast Guard sailor breaks the law, they'll be "thrown in the brig."
Vocabulary lists containing brig
Society and Solitude
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Blood on the River
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Ms. Bixby's Last Day
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
They like Wash more than Titch, whom they throw in the brig, but they are nice, relatively speaking.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 22, 2025
I would guess no based on their conversation while in the brig.
From New York Times • Feb. 23, 2023
He was intercepted mid-route by another ship, which returned him to the leaking brig he had tried to escape.
From Salon • Nov. 3, 2022
Together, we hacked a terminal, passed the brig override code across a room in a short game of telephone, and unlocked the door so that they could escape.
From The Verge • Feb. 25, 2022
It was too small to be a brig or a bark.
From "Beyond the Bright Sea" by Lauren Wolk
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.
