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Definition of brill

brill

/brɪl/
brill
Plural:brill
•
Adjective:brill
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brill Lexical Profile

brill Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A species of European marine flatfish related to the turbot, having a smooth, lightly speckled, diamond-shaped body and prized as a food fish.

Example

"The chef prepared a delicate pan-seared fillet of brill served with lemon butter and capers."

Word Nuance & Usage

As an adjective and interjection, 'brill' is highly informal British slang clipped from 'brilliant'; however, its usage as a noun refers to a specific type of marine flatfish and is considered standard, formal vocabulary.

• Rhymes for brill

• Nearby Words

brightness
brights
brigid
brill
brilliance
brilliancy
brilliant

Word Origin & Etymology

The fish name originated in the late 15th century from a Cornish word related to the Breton 'brilli' (mackerel). The slang term emerged in 1970s Britain as a clipping of 'brilliant'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Brill. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 6, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/brill
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