bruiser

[ broo-zer ]

/ ˈbru zər /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR bruiser ON THESAURUS.COM

noun Informal.

a strong, tough person: The football player was over six feet tall and weighed 285 pounds—a real bruiser.

Nearby words

Origin of bruiser

First recorded in 1580–90; bruise + -er¹

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

Examples from the Web for bruiser

He is tough, a Scottish bruiser when it comes to a knuckle fight.
Florida on the Thames|Tina Brown|May 7, 2010|DAILY BEAST
Of her specific exploits as a bruiser we hear of at least two near Dover.
Isopel Berners|George Borrow
Bruiser or no bruiser Mr. Stigler had to be tackled, and Peter was not a man to be intimidated.
Billy Barcroft, R.N.A.S.|Percy F. Westerman
The young man watched intently as the bruiser went through the wall of the cell-like room.
Double Take|Richard Wilson

As the fist clouted against his abdomen the bruiser grunted and, doubling over, grabbed John in his arms.
Spring Street|James H. Richardson
That bruiser who raised the row took his arrest very easily; I suppose you've arranged to pay his fine, and he isn't worried.
Aunt Jane's Nieces in Society|Edith Van Dyne

British Dictionary definitions for bruiser

bruiser

/ (ˈbruːzə) /

noun

informal a strong tough person, esp a boxer or a bully

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 bruiser

bruiser

"a pugilist," 1744, agent noun from bruise (v.).

bruiser

noun Informal.

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of bruiser

Examples from the Web for bruiser

bruiser

noun

bruiser