See Also: Herbal medicine (botanical medicine, herbology, phytomedicine)(health)
brass(dictionary)
brass(2)(dictionary)
top brass(dictionary)
Brass(money)
brass(1)(dictionary)
brass(encyclopedia)
Brass(medicine)
brass instrument(encyclopedia)
brass knuckles(dictionary)

adrenalopathy (medicine) and brass(1) (iou)


adrenalopathy (medicine)


adrenalopathy


Any pathologic condition of the adrenal glands.

Synonym: adrenopathy.

Origin: adrenal + G. Pathos, suffering


brass(1) (iou)



brass noun & adjective. [brɑ:s]

A. noun.
Orig., any alloy of copper with tin or zinc or occas. Other metals. Now, a yellow alloy of copper and zinc only (cf. BRONZE noun). OE.
Corinthian brass: see CORINTHIAN adjective 1. NAVAL brass. white brass: see WHITE adjective.
b. Brass taken as a type of hardness or insensitivity; impudence, effrontery, nerve. LME.
as bold as brass very bold(ly), impudent(ly); brazen-faced(ly).
Shakespeare Henry VIII Men's evil manners live in brass: their virtues We write in water. T. T. Lynch An empty, vaunting person, who has brass enough to face the world.
A brass object; such objects collectively, brassware; spec. wind instruments of brass, the section of an orchestra or band comprising these. LME.
D. L. Sayers Her manner is unpolished, but I have observed that her brass is not.
b. A monumental or sepulchral tablet of brass, bearing figures, inscriptions, etc., laid in the floor or set into the wall of a church. M16.
c. A bearing or block for a shaft. M16.
d. In full horse-brass. A brass ornament worn by a draught horse. E20.
e. A brass block or die used to impress a design etc. on a book-cover. M20.
Orig., copper or bronze coin. Now (colloq.), money generally, cash. LME.
High-ranking officers in the armed forces (cf. brass hat below); gen. leaders, bosses. Also top brass. slang (orig. US). L19.
ellipt. = brass nail below. slang. M20.
Comb.: brass-rubbing the process of reproducing the design on a monumental brass by rubbing paper laid upon it with heelball etc.; an impression so produced.
b. attrib. or as adjective. (Made) of brass, brazen. LME.
brass band a group of musicians with brass (and percussion) instruments. brass farthing the least possible amount (usu. in neg. contexts). brass hat slang an officer of high rank (having gold braid on the cap). brass-monkey(s) [cf. MONKEY noun] slang (of weather etc.) bitterly cold. brass nail [rhyming slang for tail] slang a prostitute. brass plate an engraved plate with the name, trade, etc., of its owner displayed outside the owner's Home or place of business. brass rags sailors' cleaning cloths; part brass rags cease friendship (with). brass rule: see RULE noun. brass tacks slang actual details, real business (chiefly in get down to brass tacks). brassware utensils etc. made of brass.