brill

¹

[ bril ]

noun

, plural brills, (especially collectively) brill.

1. a European flatfish, Scophthalmus rhombus, closely related to the turbot.

Brill

²

[ bril ]

noun

1. A(braham) A(rden), 1874–1948, U.S. psychoanalyst and author, born in Austria.

brill

¹

/ brɪl /

noun

1. a European food fish, Scophthalmus rhombus , a flatfish similar to the turbot but lacking tubercles on the body: family Bothidae

brill

²

/ brɪl /

adjective

1. slang.
   excellent or wonderful

Word History and Origins

Origin of brill¹

First recorded in 1475–85; of uncertain origin

Word History and Origins

Origin of brill¹

C15: probably from Cornish brӯthel mackerel, from Old Cornish brӯth speckled; related to Welsh brith spotted

Origin of brill²

C20 shortened form of brilliant

Example Sentences

Brill says that the Parks department dropped the charges and hired him to lead foraging tours for the next four years.

From Popular-Science

For now, Brill will stick to the approach he’s figured out through trial and error, relying on his intuition about which gait feels best at any given moment.

From Outside Online

Brill’s next study, when pandemic, fire, and other disruptions permit, will involve trail runners walking, running, or choosing their own mix of the two while climbing an actual mountain.

From Outside Online

For a competitive trail runner like Brill, it would be nice to take away some practical insights about when to switch.

From Outside Online

As it happens, Brill and his colleagues have been researching this problem for several years, and a pair of recent studies offer some interesting new insights.

From Outside Online

I wish I was a young Carole King, working in the Brill Building.

From The Daily Beast

Brill went on to publish his piece in Time, where it won a National Magazine Award.

From The Daily Beast

“Every single witness is inadmissible, hearsay, triple-hearsay,” said assistant state attorney Penny Brill in court yesterday.

From The Daily Beast

The typically somber atmosphere at the bi-annual church convocation was punctuated by hollers, applause and a shout of “brill!”

From The Daily Beast

And Brill is a woman who was awarded the presidential National Medal of Technology and Innovation two years ago.

From The Daily Beast

But she bought a small pulley as well as the ground connections which Mr. Brill had in stock.

From Project Gutenberg

There they remained until the gale abated, and then crossed the Channel to Brill on the 30th.

From Project Gutenberg

There they seized the city of Brill, and repulsed a Spanish force which strove to recapture it.

From Project Gutenberg

Me, in the same galley with Brill—who daren't go into his own clubs—and Ullivant, and a few more pretty nearly as bad!

From Project Gutenberg

Close to leeward was the Brill shoal, on which the van-ship of the French, now tacking, endeavoured to drive the Glatton.

From Project Gutenberg