{ Brit, Britt } (&?;), n. (Zoöl.) (a) The young of the common herring; also, a small species of herring; the sprat. (b) The minute marine animals (chiefly Entomostraca) upon which the right whales feed.
Bri*tan"ni*a (&?;), n. [From L. Britannia Great Britain.] A white-metal alloy of tin, antimony, bismuth, copper, etc. It somewhat resembles silver, and is used for table ware. Called also Britannia metal.
Bri*tan"nic (&?;), a. [L. Britannicus, fr. Britannia Great Britain.] Of or pertaining to Great Britain; British; as, her Britannic Majesty.
{ Brite, Bright } (&?;), v. t. To be or become overripe, as wheat, barley, or hops. [Prov. Eng.]
Brit"i*cism (&?;), n. A word, phrase, or idiom peculiar to Great Britain; any manner of using a word or words that is peculiar to Great Britain.
Brit"ish (brt"sh), a. [AS. Brittisc, Bryttisc.] Of or pertaining to Great Britain or to its inhabitants; -- sometimes restricted to the original inhabitants.
British gum, a brownish substance, very soluble in cold water, formed by heating dry starch at a temperature of about 600° Fahr. It corresponds, in its properties, to dextrin, and is used, in solution, as a substitute for gum in stiffering goods. -- British lion, the national emblem of Great Britain. -- British seas, the four seas which surround Great Britain.
Brit"ish, n. pl. People of Great Britain.
Brit"ish*er, n. An Englishman; a subject or inhabitant of Great Britain, esp. one in the British military or naval service. [Now used jocosely]
Brit"on (&?;), a. [AS. bryten Britain.] British. [Obs.] Spenser. -- n. A native of Great Britain.
Brit"tle (&?;), a. [OE. britel, brutel, AS. bryttian to dispense, fr. breótan to break; akin to Icel. brytja, Sw. bryta, Dan. bryde. Cf. Brickle.] Easily broken; apt to break; fragile; not tough or tenacious.
Farewell, thou pretty, brittle piece
Of fine-cut crystal.
Cotton.
Brittle silver ore, the mineral stephanite.
Brit"tle*ly, adv. In a brittle manner. Sherwood.
Brit"tle*ness, n. Aptness to break; fragility.
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Brit"tle star` (brt"t'l stär`), (Zoöl.) Any species of ophiuran starfishes. See Ophiuroidea.
Britz"ska (brts"k), n. [Russ. britshka; cf. Pol. bryczka, dim. of bryka freight wagon.] A long carriage, with a calash top, so constructed as to give space for reclining at night, when used on a journey.
Brize (brz), n. The breeze fly. See Breeze. Shak.
Broach (&?;), n. [OE. broche, F. broche, fr. LL. brocca; prob. of Celtic origin; cf. W. proc thrust, stab, Gael. brog awl. Cf. Brooch.] 1. A spit. [Obs.]
He turned a broach that had worn a crown.
Bacon.
2. An awl; a bodkin; also, a wooden rod or pin, sharpened at each end, used by thatchers. [Prov. Eng.] Forby.
3. (Mech.) (a) A tool of steel, generally tapering, and of a polygonal form, with from four to eight cutting edges, for smoothing or enlarging holes in metal; sometimes made smooth or without edges, as for burnishing pivot holes in watches; a reamer. The broach for gun barrels is commonly square and without taper. (b) A straight tool with file teeth, made of steel, to be pressed through irregular holes in metal that cannot be dressed by revolving tools; a drift.