brent
brent Lexical Profile
brent Game Scores & Validity
• noun
British A small, dark, short-necked goose (Branta bernicla) of the family Anatidae that breeds in the high Arctic tundra and winters along temperate marine coasts and estuaries.
"Large flocks of brents gather along the muddy estuaries of southeastern England every winter to feed on eelgrass."
• adjective
Scottish High, steep, or sheer; (when describing the forehead) smooth and unwrinkled.
"In the old Scottish ballad, the hero was praised for his brent brow and noble bearing."
Word Nuance & Usage
In British English, 'brent' or 'brent goose' is the standard term for the small dark coastal goose, whereas 'brant' is preferred in North American English.
• Rhymes for brent
Word Origin & Etymology
The bird sense dates to the 16th century, likely derived from Old Norse 'brandgás' (literally 'burnt goose'), referring to its dark, charred-looking plumage. The Scottish and dialectal adjective meaning 'steep' or 'unwrinkled' comes from Old English 'brant' (high, steep).