brit

¹ American  

[brit] / brɪt /

Or britt

noun

1. the group of small marine animals forming the food of baleen whales.

2. the young of herring and sprat.

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Brit ² American  

[brit] / brɪt /

noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Great Britain, especially of England; Briton.

   He married a Brit.

2. Disparaging. a member of the British army in Northern Ireland during the Troubles.

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adjective

1. of or relating to Great Britain or its inhabitants; British.

   The syllabus for the course in Brit Lit was none too inspiring.

Brit. ³ American  

abbreviation

1. Britain.

2. British.

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Brit ¹ British  

abbreviation

1. Britain

2. British

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brit ² British  

/ brɪt /

noun

1. the young of a herring, sprat, or similar fish

2. minute marine crustaceans, esp copepods, forming food for many fishes and whales

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Brit ³ British  

/ brɪt /

noun

1. informal a British person

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Etymology

Origin of brit¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; perhaps from Cornish brȳthel “mackerel”; akin to Old Cornish brȳth, Welsh brith “speckled”

Origin of Brit²

First recorded in 1900–05; by shortening

Example Sentences

He was trained in the Jewish religious practice of brit milah — a profession generally spelled “mohel” in English and pronounced “moil.”

From New York Times

Some have quit their day jobs to perform the brit milah full time.

From New York Times

“With brit milahs, they’re having the family they want, and if I’m doing the abortions, I’m just fulfilling the wish of women to have the lives they want.”

From Washington Post

“I’m glad I came,” she said, and she thought in desolation how brit- de he was now and how easy to shatter, and how she would have to protect him.

From Literature

For a brit milah, it is customary for family and friends to gather to celebrate the ushering of a child into the community of Israel.

From Time