brass

BRAS/bɹæs/UKBRAHS/bɹɑːs/

18 meanings of brass

1
the metalnouncountable or uncountable
A metal made from copper and zinc mixed together, used in industry and for water pipes.
The old door handle is made of brass, and it shines when you clean it.
Factories melt copper and zinc together to make brass.
UsageSay something is made of brass.
Note
2
adjective
Made of brass, or having to do with brass.
She polished the brass doorknob until it gleamed.
The old ship's brass bell still hangs by the front door.
3
trumpets and hornsnoununcountable
Wind instruments, usually metal, played by buzzing the lips, or the group in a band or orchestra that plays them.
The brass played loudly at the end of the song.
My brother plays brass in the school band.
UsageSay the brass for the group, or a brass band.
Note
4
top bossesnounmetonymicallyuncountable
The people with the most power in a group, such as top army officers or company bosses.
We had to clean the whole base before the brass arrived.
The brass want the report on their desks by Friday.
UsageSay the top brass for the bosses.
Similarleadership, management, bigwigs
Note
5
metal objectsnouncountable or uncountable
Handles, pans, and other things made of brass.
Every Saturday she cleans the brass in the kitchen.
The walls of the old inn were covered with shiny brasses.
Similarbrassware
6
empty shellsnoununcountable
The empty metal cases left over after bullets or shells are fired.
After practice, we picked up the brass from the floor of the range.
Police found brass scattered across the parking lot.
7
grave platenouncountable or uncountable
A metal plate, usually made of brass, that marks a grave or helps people remember someone who died.
The old brass on her grave shows her name and a small picture of her.
We looked at the brasses on the church floor, each with a name and a date of death.
UsageA paper copy made by rubbing over a brass is called a brass rubbing.
Note

Less common meanings

8
the colornoununcountable
The yellow, gold-like color of brass.
The walls were painted in brass and dark green.
The leaves had faded to a dull brass by late October.
9
adjective
Having the yellow, gold-like color of brass.
In the evening light, the lake looked brass.
The sunset turned the tall grass brass and orange.
Similarbrassy, golden
10
nervenouncolloquialuncountable
The bold, sometimes foolish courage to say or do rude or risky things.
You have a lot of brass, showing up late and asking for a break.
She had the brass to tell the boss he was wrong.
UsageSay someone had the brass to do it.
Similarnerve, gall, cheek, audacity, chutzpah
11
moneynoundateduncountable
Money that people spend and save.
He saved enough brass for a new bike.
He worked long hours down at the mill to earn some brass.
UsageUsed like money: earn some brass.
Similarmoney, cash, dough
12
coat with metalverbtransitive
To cover something with a layer of brass.
These cheap hooks are only brassed steel, so the gold color wears off.
The factory will brass the steel screws so they match the old handles.
13
adjective
Made of poor, low-quality stuff.
As Honest Plush Brannon then, Mr. Beery is one of San Francisco's fancier con men and hence more brass than plush
1939, The New York times film reviewsHere, brass means cheap and poor in quality.
Note
14
prostitutenounslangcountable
A person who takes money for sex.
The detective questioned a brass who worked the street corner every night.
Two brasses stood under the streetlight, waiting for cars.
UsageThis can sound rude. Say sex worker.
Similarprostitute, hooker
Note
15
old length unitnounobsoletehistorical
An old unit for measuring length, close to a fathom, whose exact size differed from country to country.
Note
16
adjectivecolloquial
Bold and rude, without any shame.
After cornering the dutch auction, the seller was brass enough to send him the whole lot without one.
2000, 2:00 am, David Ryan
17
adjectiveslang
Cold. It means the same as the slang brass monkey.
18
adjectiveslang
Bad or annoying. People say it as a joke, mostly about brass bands.
There are soldiers, policemen, priests and friars, as well as a motley mass of women, children, babies and dogs, and upon special occasions a very brass band.
1937, Blair Niles, A journey in time: Peruvian pageantHere, brass means bad or annoying, a joke on the band's brass instruments.

Practice

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Origins

Meanings 1–13

It comes from the Old English word bræs, meaning “brass” or “bronze”. No one is sure where that word came from.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 3 facts

Brass derives from Old English bræs. en.wiktionary.org
Old English bræs meant brass or bronze. en.wiktionary.org
The further origin of bræs is uncertain. en.wiktionary.org

Meaning 14

It is a shortened form of slang phrases such as brass nail and brass flute.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts

Brass is shortened from the slang phrase brass nail. en.wiktionary.org
Brass is also shortened from the slang phrase brass flute. en.wiktionary.org

Meaning 15

It comes from Portuguese and Spanish words that go back to the Latin word for “arm”.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts

Brass, the historical unit of measure, comes from Portuguese braça and Spanish braza. en.wiktionary.org
Those Portuguese and Spanish words ultimately derive from a Latin word meaning “arm”. en.wiktionary.org