brank

brank
brank [braŋk]
n.
< ?
[often pl., with sing. v.] a device formerly used to punish women judged to be noisy and quarrelsome, consisting of an iron curb for the tongue, held in place by a frame around the head

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brank (brăngk) n.
A device consisting of a metal frame for the head and a bit to restrain the tongue, formerly used to punish scolds. Usually used in the plural.
  [Possibly from Dutch branken, legs (of a compass, scissors, etc.), pl. of branke, branch, from Late Latin branca, paw. See branch.]

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • brank — brank·ie; brank·ur·sine; brank; …   English syllables

  • Brank — Brank, n. [Prov. of Celtic origin; cf. L. brance, brace, the Gallic name of a particularly white kind of corn.] Buckwheat. [Local, Eng.] Halliwell. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Brank — Brank, Branks Branks, n. [Cf. Gael. brangus, brangas, a sort of pillory, Ir. brancas halter, or D. pranger fetter.] 1. A sort of bridle with wooden side pieces. [Scot. & Prov. Eng.] Jamieson. [1913 Webster] 2. A scolding bridle, an instrument… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Brank — Brank, v. i. 1. To hold up and toss the head; applied to horses as spurning the bit. [Scot. & Prov. Eng.] [1913 Webster] 2. To prance; to caper. [Scot.] Jamieson. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • brank — [braŋk] n. [< ?] [often pl., with sing. v.] a device formerly used to punish women judged to be noisy and quarrelsome, consisting of an iron curb for the tongue, held in place by a frame around the head …   English World dictionary

  • brank|ur|sine — «brangk UR sihn», noun. the bear s breech; the acanthus plant. ╂[< Medieval Latin branca ursina bear s claw] …   Useful english dictionary

  • brank-new — corruption of brand new …   Useful english dictionary

  • brank — 1. noun A metal bridle formerly used as a torture device to hold the head of a scold and restrain the tongue 2. verb To put someone in the branks …   Wiktionary

  • brank(s) —   n. kind of bridle fixed to head of nagging woman as punishment; scold s bridle;   Scottish, mumps …   Dictionary of difficult words

  • brank — Buckwheat was so called in Essex …   Ballentine's law dictionary

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