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• brit
  brit

  noun

  the group of small marine animals forming the food of baleen whales.
• Brit
  Brit

  noun

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

  abbreviation

  Britain.

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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

brit Brit Brit.

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 ● Aug. 15, 2023

When she can, she conducts brit milahs for local families — at most “a few a month,” she said.

From Washington Post ● Aug. 6, 2019

Since retiring from her D.C.-based obstetrics-gynecology practice in 2015, Imershein has spent her time this way: performing first-trimester abortions and ritual circumcisions, known in Hebrew as brit milahs.

From Washington Post ● Aug. 6, 2019

Turquoise's 53 Summer Street is a surreal location for psychedelic-era enlightenment in a track that BeltwayBandit describes as "really scrumptious 60s brit psychedelic whimsy, sort of Kinksesque but quite unique".

From The Guardian ● May 24, 2012

This name does not denote British origin, but is derived from three Teuton words, brit, to tighten: tan, a tooth; and ica, loose; thus expressing its power of bracing up loose teeth and spongy gums.

From Herbal Simples Approved for Modern Uses of Cure by William Thomas Fernie

And movie theaters are giving us an odd new take on Austen’s first novel, “Sense and Sensibility,” directed by Georgia Oakley, a Brit whose only previous feature is the 2022 lesbian drama “Blue Jean.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026

Otherwise, as a famous Brit once sang backed by sinuous xylophones, “Baby, baby, baby, you’re out of time.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026

The Brit Award-winning singer-songwriter, born in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, had broken his ankle the day before.

From BBC ● Sep. 11, 2026

The Brit School, where Dean spent her formative years, seems like a kind of Hogwarts, except focused on the arts and everyone’s a Gryffindor.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026

“Come on,” Brit says, glancing at his phone.

From "Odd One Out" by Nic Stone

"I still struggle to call myself a black Brit. I grew up here all my life and I have strong ties here, but I'm also Nigerian" says Afolabi.

From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2022

"I had a little bit of nerves - I was a big favourite against a young Brit. I'm excited to see how he's going to do in the future," Norrie told Amazon Prime.

From BBC ● Mar. 25, 2022

Encore has polished acting, direction and writing by three different sets of Brit. ish film talents.

From Time Magazine Archive

“But, listen, Brit. When they pick up this Erlone fellow, he’s going to tell the cops and the papers’ll have the story anyway. So call ’em now.

From "Native Son" by Richard Wright

Brit. and for 17 years editor of the Edinburgh Rev. Napier, Mark.

From A Brief Handbook of English Authors by Oscar Fay Adams

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