brit

¹

or britt

[ brit ]

noun

1. the group of small marine animals forming the food of baleen whales.
2. the young of herring and sprat.

Brit

²

[ brit ]

noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Great Britain, especially of England; Briton:

   He married a Brit.

2. Disparaging. a member of the British army in Northern Ireland during the Troubles.

adjective

1. of or relating to Great Britain or its inhabitants; British:

   The syllabus for the course in Brit Lit was none too inspiring.

Brit.

³

abbreviation for

1. Britain.
2. British.

Brit

¹

abbreviation for

1. Britain
2. British

brit

²

/ brɪt /

noun

1. the young of a herring, sprat, or similar fish
2. minute marine crustaceans, esp copepods, forming food for many fishes and whales

Brit

³

/ brɪt /

noun

1. informal.
   a British person

Word History and Origins

Origin of brit¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; perhaps from Cornish brȳthel “mackerel”; akin to Old Cornish brȳth, Welsh brith “speckled”

Origin of brit²

First recorded in 1900–05; by shortening

Word History and Origins

Origin of brit¹

C17: perhaps from Cornish brӯthel mackerel; see brill

Example Sentences

He was trained in the Jewish religious practice of brit milah — a profession generally spelled “mohel” in English and pronounced “moil.”

From New York Times

Some have quit their day jobs to perform the brit milah full time.

From New York Times

When she can, she conducts brit milahs for local families — at most “a few a month,” she said.

From Washington Post

“I’m glad I came,” she said, and she thought in desolation how brit- de he was now and how easy to shatter, and how she would have to protect him.

From Literature

For a brit milah, it is customary for family and friends to gather to celebrate the ushering of a child into the community of Israel.

From Time