n.; pl. Brasses [ 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. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. (Mach.) 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. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. Coin made of copper, brass, or bronze. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ] Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, nor scrip for your journey. Matt. x. 9. [ 1913 Webster ] 4. Impudence; a brazen face. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ] 5. pl. Utensils, ornaments, or other articles of brass. [ 1913 Webster ] The very scullion who cleans the brasses. Hopkinson. [ 1913 Webster ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ] 7. pl. (Mining) Lumps of pyrites or sulphuret of iron, the color of which is near to that of brass. [ 1913 Webster ] ☞ The word brass as used in Sculpture language is a translation for copper or some kind of bronze. [ 1913 Webster ] ☞ Brass is often used adjectively or in self-explaining compounds; as, brass button, brass kettle, brass founder, brass foundry or brassfoundry. [ 1913 Webster ]
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. [ 1913 Webster ]
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