brace | Words related to brace | Online Etymology Dictionary

Words related to brace

early 14c., "piece of armor protecting the arm;" 1580s, "a clamp, bind, that which braces or makes firm," agent noun from brace (v.). Figurative sense of "that which braces the nerves" is 1740; especially an alcoholic drink taken early in the morning (by 1826). Related: Bracers.

brachio-

before a vowel, brachi-, word-forming element meaning "arm, of the upper arm, pertaining to the upper arm and," from Greek brakhion "arm," perhaps originally "upper arm," literally "shorter," from brakhys "short" (from PIE root *mregh-u- "short"), in contrast to the longer forearm.

*mregh-u-

Proto-Indo-European root meaning "short."

It forms all or part of: abbreviate; abbreviation; abridge; amphibrach; brace; bracelet; brachio-; brachiopod; brachiosaurus; brachy-; brassiere; breviary; brevity; brief; brumal; brume; embrace; merry; mirth; pretzel; vambrace.

It is the hypothetical source of/evidence for its existence is provided by: Greek brakhys "short;" Latin brevis "short, low, little, shallow;" Old Church Slavonic bruzeja "shallow places, shoals;" Gothic gamaurgjan "to shorten."

vambrace (n.)

armor or guard for the forearm, early 14c., from Anglo-French vant-bras, from Old French avant-bras, from avant "before, in front of" (see avant) + bras "an arm" (see brace (n.)).

Words related to brace

Trending words