bracket

(brakit)

noun

  1. an architectural support projecting from a wall, as a corbel
  2. any angle-shaped support, esp. one in the form of a right triangle
  3. a wall shelf or shelves held up by brackets
  4. a wall fixture, as for a small electric lamp
  5. either of the pair of signs [ ], or sometimes < >, used to enclose a word or words inserted as for explanation, quantities to be taken as a single quantity, etc.
  6. the part of a classified, graded grouping that falls within specified limits: the $30,000 to $40,000 income bracket
    1. the interval between the ranges of two rounds of artillery fire, as one over and the other short of the target, used to find the correct range
    2. such a pair of rounds

Origin: earlier bragget < Fr braguette, codpiece, dim. of brague, knee pants; ult. < Gaul *braca, pants

transitive verb

  1. to provide or support with brackets
  2. to enclose within brackets
  3. to group, classify, or associate together: Grant and Lee are bracketed in history
  4. to establish a bracket for (an artillery target)

See bracket in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. a. A simple rigid structure in the shape of an L, one arm of which is fixed to a vertical surface, the other projecting horizontally to support a shelf or other weight.
    b. A small shelf or shelves supported by such structures.
  2. Architecture A decorative or weight-bearing structural unit, two sides of which form a right angle with one arm flush against a wall and the other flush beneath a projecting surface, such as eaves or a bay window.
  3. A wall-anchored fixture for gas or electricity.
  4. a. A square bracket.
    b. An angle bracket.
    c. Mathematics See brace.
  5. Chiefly British One of a pair of parentheses.
  6. A classification or grouping, especially within a sequence of numbers or grades, as a category of incomes sharing the same tax rate.
  7. a. The distance between two impacting shells, the first aimed beyond a target and the second aimed short of it, used to determine the range for artillery fire.
    b. The shells fired in such a manner.
transitive verb brack·et·ed, brack·et·ing, brack·ets
  1. To furnish or support with a bracket or brackets.
  2. To place within or as if within brackets.
  3. To classify or group together.
  4. To include or exclude by establishing specific boundaries.
  5. To fire beyond and short of (a target) in order to determine artillery range.

Origin:

Origin: Possibly French braguette, codpiece

Origin: , diminutive of brague, breeches

Origin: , from Old Provençal braga

Origin: , from Latin brācae

Origin: , from Gaulish brāca, leg covering

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