brit

¹ American  

[brit] / brɪt /

Or britt

noun

1. the group of small marine animals forming the food of baleen whales.

2. the young of herring and sprat.

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Brit ² American  

[brit] / brɪt /

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.

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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 American  

abbreviation

1. Britain.

2. British.

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Brit ¹ British  

abbreviation

1. Britain

2. British

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brit ² British  

/ 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

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Brit ³ British  

/ brɪt /

noun

1. informal a British person

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Etymology

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