brass

[bras, brahs] /bræs, brɑs/
noun
1.
any of various metal alloys consisting mainly of copper and zinc.
2.
a utensil, ornament, or other article made of such an alloy.
3.
Music.
  1. brass instrument.
  2. brass instruments collectively in a band or orchestra.
4.
metallic yellow; lemon, amber, or reddish yellow.
5.
Informal.
  1. high-ranking military officers.
  2. any very important officials.
6.
Informal. excessive self-assurance; impudence; effrontery.
7.
Machinery. a replaceable semicylindrical shell, usually of bronze, used with another such to line a bearing; a half bushing.
8.
British. a memorial tablet or plaque, often incised with an effigy, coat of arms, or the like.
9.
Furniture. any piece of ornamental or functional hardware, as a drawer pull, made of brass.
10.
British Slang. money.
adjective
11.
of, made of, or pertaining to brass.
12.
composed for or using musical instruments made of brass.
13.
having the color brass.
Origin
before 1000; 1945-50 for def 5; Middle English bras, Old English bræs; cognate with Old Frisian bres copper, Middle Low German bras metal
Related forms
brassish, adjective
Synonyms
6. cheek, nerve, brashness, gall, chutzpa.
British Dictionary definitions for brass

brass

/brɑːs/
noun
1.
an alloy of copper and zinc containing more than 50 per cent of copper. Alpha brass (containing less than 35 per cent of zinc) is used for most engineering materials requiring forging, pressing, etc Alpha-beta brass (35–45 per cent zinc) is used for hot working and extrusion. Beta brass (45–50 per cent zinc) is used for castings. Small amounts of other metals, such as lead or tin, may be added Compare bronze (sense 1)
2.
an object, ornament, or utensil made of brass
3.
  1. the large family of wind instruments including the trumpet, trombone, French horn, etc, each consisting of a brass tube blown directly by means of a cup- or funnel-shaped mouthpiece
  2. (sometimes functioning as pl) instruments of this family forming a section in an orchestra
  3. (as modifier): a brass ensemble
4.
a renewable sleeve or bored semicylindrical shell made of brass or bronze, used as a liner for a bearing
5.
(functioning as pl) (informal) important or high-ranking officials, esp military officers: the top brass See also brass hat
6.
(Northern English, dialect) money: where there's muck, there's brass!
7.
(Brit) an engraved brass memorial tablet or plaque, set in the wall or floor of a church
8.
(informal) bold self-confidence; cheek; nerve: he had the brass to ask for more time
9.
(slang) a prostitute
10.
(modifier) of, consisting of, or relating to brass or brass instruments: a brass ornament, a brass band
related
adjective brazen
Word Origin
Old English bræs; related to Old Frisian bres copper, Middle Low German bras metal
Word Origin and History for brass
n.

Old English bræs "brass, bronze," originally in reference to an alloy of copper and tin (now bronze), later and in modern use an alloy of two parts copper, one part zinc. A mystery word, with no known cognates beyond English. Perhaps akin to French brasser "to brew," because it is an alloy. It also has been compared to Old Swedish brasa "fire," but no sure connection can be made. Yet another theory connects it with Latin ferrum "iron," itself of obscure origin.

As brass was unknown in antiquity, use of the word in Bible translations, etc., likely means "bronze." The Romans were the first to deliberately make it. Words for "brass" in other languages (e.g. German Messing, Old English mæsling, French laiton, Italian ottone) also tend to be difficult to explain.

The meaning "effrontery, impudence" is from 1620s. Slang sense of "high officials" is first recorded 1899. The brass tacks that you get down to (1897) probably are the ones used to measure cloth on the counter of a dry goods store, suggesting precision. Slang brass balls "toughness, courage" (emphatically combining two metaphors for the same thing) attested by 1960s.

brass in Science
brass
  (brās)   
A yellowish alloy of copper and zinc, usually 67 percent copper and 33 percent zinc. It sometimes includes small amounts of other metals. Brass is strong, ductile, and resistant to many forms of corrosion.
brass in Culture

brass definition


Musical instruments traditionally made of brass and played by blowing directly into a small, cup-shaped mouthpiece. They include the French horn, trumpet, trombone, and tuba.

Slang definitions & phrases for brass

brass

noun
  1. Impudence; effrontery; chutzpa •Fr the late 1500s brass had the same meaning in the phrase face of brass, that is, ''brazen-faced'' (1700s+)
  2. Money •Common in British usage (late 1500s+)
  3. High officials or managers in general; the BRASS: There's lots of vice presidents here but they're not really brass (1899+)

brass in the Bible

which is an alloy of copper and zinc, was not known till the thirteenth century. What is designated by this word in Scripture is properly copper (Deut. 8:9). It was used for fetters (Judg. 16:21; 2 Kings 25:7), for pieces of armour (1 Sam. 17:5, 6), for musical instruments (1 Chr. 15:19; 1 Cor. 13:1), and for money (Matt. 10:9). It is a symbol of insensibility and obstinacy in sin (Isa. 48:4; Jer. 6:28; Ezek. 22:18), and of strength (Ps. 107:16; Micah 4:13). The Macedonian empire is described as a kingdom of brass (Dan. 2:39). The "mountains of brass" Zechariah (6:1) speaks of have been supposed to represent the immutable decrees of God. The serpent of brass was made by Moses at the command of God (Num. 21:4-9), and elevated on a pole, so that it might be seen by all the people when wounded by the bite of the serpents that were sent to them as a punishment for their murmurings against God and against Moses. It was afterwards carried by the Jews into Canaan, and preserved by them till the time of Hezekiah, who caused it to be at length destroyed because it began to be viewed by the people with superstitious reverence (2 Kings 18:4). (See NEHUSHTAN.) The brazen serpent is alluded to by our Lord in John 3:14, 15. (See SERPENT.)

Idioms and Phrases with brass

brass

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