brawn Look up brawn at Dictionary.com
late 13c., from O.Fr. braon "fleshy or muscular part, buttock," from Frank. *brado "ham, roast," from P.Gmc. *bred-on- (cf. O.H.G. brato "tender meat," Ger. Braten "roast," O.N. braš "raw meat," O.E. bręd "flesh"), from PIE *bhre- "burn, heat," from base *bhreue- "to boil, bubble, effervesce, burn" (see brew). The original sense is "piece of meat suitable for roasting." "The specific sense 'boar's flesh' is exclusively of English development, and characteristic of English habits" [OED].