Category:Brass

Brass, n.; pl. Brasses. Etym: [OE. bras, bres, AS. bræs; akin to Icel. bras cement, solder, brasa to harden by fire, and to E. braze, brazen. Cf. 1st & 2d Braze.]

1. An alloy (usually yellow) of copper and zinc, in variable proportion, but often containing two parts of copper to one part of zinc. It sometimes contains tin, and rarely other metals.

2. (Mach.)

Defn: A journal bearing, so called because frequently made of brass. A brass is often lined with a softer metal, when the latter is generally called a white metal lining. See Axle box, Journal Box, and Bearing.

3. Coin made of copper, brass, or bronze. [Obs.] Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, nor scrip for your journey. Matt. x. 9.

4. Impudence; a brazen face. [Colloq.]

5. pl.

Defn: Utensils, ornaments, or other articles of brass. The very scullion who cleans the brasses. Hopkinson.

6. A brass plate engraved with a figure or device. Specifically, one used as a memorial to the dead, and generally having the portrait, coat of arms, etc.

7. pl. (Mining)

Defn: Lumps of pyrites or sulphuret of iron, the color of which is near to that of brass.

Note: The word brass as used in Sculpture language is a translation for copper or some kind of bronze.

Note: Brass is often used adjectively or in self-explaining compounds; as, brass button, brass kettle, brass founder, brass foundry or brassfoundry. Brass band (Mus.), a band of musicians who play upon wind instruments made of brass, as trumpets, cornets, etc. -- Brass foil, Brass leaf, brass made into very thin sheets; -- called also Dutch gold.

- ---excerpt from the Illustrated Bible Dictionary

Brass - Which is an alloy of copper and zinc, was not known till the thirteenth century. What is designated by this word in Scripture is properly copper (Deuteronomy 8:9). It was used for fetters (Judges 16:21; 2 Kings 25:7), for pieces of armor (1 Samuel 17:5, 1 Samuel 17:6), for musical instruments (1 Chronicles 15:19; 1 Corinthians 13:1), and for money (Matthew 10:9). It is a symbol of insensibility and obstinacy in sin (Isaiah 48:4; Jeremiah 6:28; Ezekiel 22:18), and of strength (Psalms 107:16; Micah 4:13). The Macedonian empire is described as a kingdom of brass (Daniel 2:39). The "mountains of brass" Zechariah (Zechariah 6:1) speaks of have been supposed to represent the immutable decrees of God. The serpent of brass was made by Moses at the command of God (Numbers 21:4), and elevated on a pole, so that it might be seen by all the people when wounded by the bite of the serpents that were sent to them as a punishment for their murmurings against God and against Moses. It was afterwards carried by the Jews into Canaan, and preserved by them till the time of Hezekiah, who caused it to be at length destroyed because it began to be viewed by the people with superstitious reverence (2 Kings 18:4). (See NEHUSHTAN.) The brazen serpent is alluded to by our Lord in John 3:14 - 3:15. (See SERPENT.)