brad

150 pxA brad (stationery fastener)

Meanings

Noun

  • A thin, small nail, with a slight projection at the top on one side instead of a head, or occasionally with a small domed head, similar to that of an escutcheon pin.
  • A paper fastener, a fastening device formed of thin, soft metal, such as shim brass, with a round head and a flat, split shank, which is spread after insertion in a hole in a stack of pages, in much the same way as a cotter pin or a split rivet.

Verb

  • To attach using a brad.
  • To upset the end of a rod inserted in a hole so as to prevent it from being pulled out, as when riveting.

Origin

  • Late Middle English brad, variant of brod, from Old Norse broddr ("spike, shaft"), from Proto-Germanic *bruzdaz (compare Old English brord, Old High German brort), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰrusdʰos (compare Welsh brath ("sting, prick"), Albanian bredh ("fir-tree"), Lithuanian bruzdùklis ("bridle"), Czech brzda ("brake").

Modern English dictionary

Explore and search massive catalog of over 900,000 word meanings.

Word of the Day

Get a curated memorable word every day.

Challenge yourself

Level up your vocabulary by setting personal goals.

And much more

Try out Vedaist now.