brandish

verb
/ˈbɹændɪʃ/

Etymology

From Middle English braundischen, from Old French brandiss-, stem of brandir (“to flourish a sword”), from Frankish *brandijan, from Frankish *brand (“firebrand; sword”), from Proto-Germanic *brandaz (“fire; flame; sword”), whence Old English brand (“firebrand; torch”); equivalent to brand + -ish. More at brand.

  1. derived from *brandaz — “fire; flame; sword
  2. derived from *brand — “firebrand; sword
  3. derived from *brandijan
  4. inherited from braundischen

Definitions

  1. To move or swing a weapon back and forth, particularly if demonstrating anger, threat or…

    To move or swing a weapon back and forth, particularly if demonstrating anger, threat or skill.

    • He brandished his sword at the pirates.
    • the quivering lance which he brandished bright
  2. To bear something with ostentatious show.

    • to brandish syllogisms
    • Long, however, the young ſpark did not remain, before, giving it [his penis] two or three ſhakes, by way of brandiſhing it, he threw himſelf upon her, […]
    • It sets the stage for cutting corners in our principles just so we can brandish a perceived badge of stature.
  3. The act of flourishing or waving.

The neighborhood

Vish — recursive loop

No curated loop yet for brandish. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA