3. To give a bright brown color to, as to gun barrels, by forming a thin coat of oxide on their surface. Ure.
Brown, v. i. To become brown.
Brown"back` (&?;), n. (Zoöl.) The dowitcher or red-breasted snipe. See Dowitcher.
Brown" bill` (&?;). [Brown + bill cutting tool.] A bill or halberd of the 16th and 17th centuries. See 4th Bill.
Many time, but for a sallet, my brainpan had been cleft with a brown bill.
Shak.
The black, or as it is sometimes called, the brown bill, was a kind of halberd, the cutting part hooked like a woodman's bill, from the back of which projected a spike, and another from the head. Grose.
Brown"i*an (&?;), a. Pertaining to Dr. Robert Brown, who first demonstrated (about 1827) the commonness of the motion described below.
Brownian movement, the peculiar, rapid, vibratory movement exhibited by the microscopic particles of substances when suspended in water or other fluids.
Brown"ie (&?;), n. [So called from its supposed tawny or swarthy color.] An imaginary good- natured spirit, who was supposed often to perform important services around the house by night, such as thrashing, churning, sweeping. [Scot.]
Brown"ing, n. 1. The act or operation of giving a brown color, as to gun barrels, etc.
2. (Masonry) A smooth coat of brown mortar, usually the second coat, and the preparation for the finishing coat of plaster.
Brown"ish, a. Somewhat brown.
Brown"ism (&?;), n. (Eccl. Hist.) The views or teachings of Robert Brown of the Brownists. Milton.
Brown"ism, n. (Med.) The doctrines of the Brunonian system of medicine. See Brunonian.
Brown"ist, n. (Eccl. Hist.) A follower of Robert Brown, of England, in the 16th century, who taught that every church is complete and independent in itself when organized, and consists of members meeting in one place, having full power to elect and depose its officers.
Brown"ist, n. (Med.) One who advocates the Brunonian system of medicine.
Brown"ness, n. The quality or state of being brown.
Now like I brown (O lovely brown thy hair);
Only in brownness beauty dwelleth there.
Drayton.
Brown"stone` (&?;), n. A dark variety of sandstone, much used for building purposes.
Brown" thrush" (&?;). (Zoöl.) A common American singing bird (Harporhynchus rufus), allied to the mocking bird; -- also called brown thrasher.
Brown"wort` (&?;), n. (Bot.) A species of figwort or Scrophularia (S. vernalis), and other species of the same genus, mostly perennials with inconspicuous coarse flowers.
Brown"y (&?;), a. Brown or, somewhat brown. "Browny locks." Shak.
Brow"post` (&?;), n. (Carp.) A beam that goes across a building.
Browse (brouz), n. [OF. brost, broust, sprout, shoot, F. brout browse, browsewood, prob. fr. OHG. burst, G. borste, bristle; cf. also Armor. brousta to browse. See Bristle, n., Brush, n.] The tender branches or twigs of trees and shrubs, fit for the food of cattle and other animals; green food. Spenser.
Sheep, goats, and oxen, and the nobler steed,
On browse, and corn, and flowery meadows feed.
Dryden.
Browse, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Browsed (brouzd); p. pr. & vb. n. Browsing.] [For broust, OF. brouster, bruster, F. brouter. See Browse, n., and cf. Brut.] 1. To eat or nibble off, as the tender branches of trees, shrubs, etc.; -- said of cattle, sheep, deer, and some other animals.
Yes, like the stag, when snow the plasture sheets,
The barks of trees thou browsedst.
Shak.