英语词汇brass的起源、历史背景-英语词源词典

brass; brazen. As the ancient word for an alloy of copper with tin or zinc, brass is of unknown origin; it comes directly from the Anglo-Saxon braes, not found in any other language, though it may have some relation to the Danish brase, “to fire”—as in the firing and hardening of metal. The metal brass does give us several other easily explained words, though. Brass meaning “shameless impudence” goes back to Elizabethan times and is explained by the 1642 quotations cited by the O. E.D.: “His face is of brasse, which may be said either ever or never to blush.” Brazen, “shamelessly impudent, as bold as brass,” is simply from the English word braze, “to make hard like brass.” The word brass, used to describe anyone in authori- ty, is a shortening of the British brass hat, for “a high-ranking military officer,” a term used before the turn of the century and referring to the oak leaves, commonly thought to be brass, that adorned the brim of a British officer’s cap. This term was adopt- ed by U.S. soldiers in World War I, was streamlined to brass (or top brass, big brass, heavy brass, etc.) in World War II and was then applied to high-ranking civilian officials, executives, and influential people in general, none of whom had “scrambled eggs” (gold braid) on their hats.

词汇	brass
词源	brass; brazen. As the ancient word for an alloy of copper with tin or zinc, brass is of unknown origin; it comes directly from the Anglo-Saxon braes, not found in any other language, though it may have some relation to the Danish brase, “to fire”—as in the firing and hardening of metal. The metal brass does give us several other easily explained words, though. Brass meaning “shameless impudence” goes back to Elizabethan times and is explained by the 1642 quotations cited by the O. E.D.: “His face is of brasse, which may be said either ever or never to blush.” Brazen, “shamelessly impudent, as bold as brass,” is simply from the English word braze, “to make hard like brass.” The word brass, used to describe anyone in authori- ty, is a shortening of the British brass hat, for “a high-ranking military officer,” a term used before the turn of the century and referring to the oak leaves, commonly thought to be brass, that adorned the brim of a British officer’s cap. This term was adopt- ed by U.S. soldiers in World War I, was streamlined to brass (or top brass, big brass, heavy brass, etc.) in World War II and was then applied to high-ranking civilian officials, executives, and influential people in general, none of whom had “scrambled eggs” (gold braid) on their hats.
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