[often pl., with sing. v.] a device formerly used to punish women judged to be noisy and quarrelsome, consisting of an iron curb for the tongue, held in place by a frame around the head
Origin of brank
from uncertain or unknown; perhapsbrank
brank
noun
The definition of a brank was a torture device used on women who were found guilty of being noisy, prone to arguments or gossip.
An example of a brank is a metal cage worn around a woman who gossiped in the Middle Ages.
YourDictionary definition and usage example. Copyright © 2018 by LoveToKnow Corp
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"brank." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/brank>.
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brank. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/brank
brank
Webster's New World College Dictionary, Fifth Edition Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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"brank." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/brank>.
APA Style
brank. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/brank
brank
or branks
noun
A device consisting of a metal frame for the head and a bit to restrain the tongue, formerly used to punish scolds.
Origin of brank
Possibly from Dutch branken legs (of a compass, scissors, etc.) pl. of branke branch from Late Latin branca paw ; see branch .THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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MLA Style
"brank." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/brank>.
APA Style
brank. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/brank
Noun
(plural branks)
Verb
(third-person singular simple present branks, present participle branking, simple past and past participle branked)
Origin
Compare Gaelic brangus, brangas, a sort of pillory, Irish brancas, halter, or Dutch pranger, fetter.
English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.
Link to this page
Cite this page
MLA Style
"brank." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/brank>.
APA Style
brank. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/brank
