Chapter Braggadochio to Breaches of B by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Brandenburg Confession of Brandenburg. A formulary or confession of faith drawn up in the city of Brandenburg, by order of the elector, with the view of reconciling the tenets of Luther with those of Calvin, and to put an end to the disputes occasioned by the confession of Augsburg.

Brandimart in Orlando Furioso, is Orlando's brother-in-law.

Brandon the juggler, lived in the reign of Henry VIII.

Brandons Lighted torches. Dominica de brandonibus (St. Valentine's Day), when boys used to carry about brandons (Cupid's torches).

Brandy is Latin for Goose Here is a pun between anser, a goose, and answer, to reply. What is the Latin for
goose? Answer [anser ] brandy. (See Tace The Latin For candle.)

Brandy Nan Queen Anne, who was very fond of brandy (1664, 1702-1714). On the statue of Queen Anne in St. Paul's Churchyard a wit wrote-

“Brandy Nan, Brandy Nan, left in the lurch,
Her face to the gin-shop, her back to the church.”

   A “gin palace” used to stand at the south corner of St. Paul's Churchyard.

Branghtons (The ). Vulgar, malicious, jealous women. The characters are taken from Miss Burney's novel called Evelina. One of the brothers is a Cockney snob.

Brank A gag for scolds. (Dutch, prang, a fetter; German, pranger, Gælic, brancas, a kind of pillory.)

Brasenose (Oxford). Over the gate is a brass nose, the arms of the college; but the word is a corruption of brasenhuis, a brasserie or brewhouse. (Latin, brasinium.)

Brass Impudence. A lawyer said to a troublesome witness, “Why, man, you have brass enough in your head to make a teakettle.” “And you, sir,” replied the witness, “have water enough in yours to fill it.”
   Sampson Brass. A knavish attorney; servile, affecting sympathy, but making his clients his lawful prey. (Dickens: Old Curiosity Shop.

Brat A child; so called from the Welsh, brat, a child's pinafore; and brat is a contraction of brattach, a cloth, also a standard.

“Every man must repair to the brattach of his tribe.”- Scott.

“O Israel! O household of the Lord!
O Abraham's brats! O brood of blessed seed!”
Gascoigne: De Profundis.

Brave The Brave.
   Alfonso IV. of Portugal (1290, 1324-1357).
   John Andr. van der Mersch, patriot, The brave Fleming (1734-1792).

Bravery Finery is the French braverie. The French for courage is bravoure.

“What woman in the city do I name
When that I say the city woman bears
The cost of princes on unworthy shoulders?
Who can come in and say that I mean her? ...
Or what is he of basest function
That says his bravery is not of my cost?”
Shakespeare: As You Like It, ii. 7.

Bravest of the Brave Marshal Ney. So called by the troops of Friedland (1807), on account of his fearless bravery. Napoleon said of him, “That man is a lion.” (1769-1815.)

Brawn The test of the brawn's head. A little boy one day came to the court of King Arthur, and, drawing his wand over a boar's head, declared, “There's never a cuckold's knife can carve this head of brawn.” No knight in the court except Sir Cradock was able to accomplish the feat. (Percy's Reliques.)