brant

¹

[ brant ]

noun

, plural brants, (especially collectively) brant.

1. any of several species of small, dark-colored geese of the genus Branta, especially B. bernicla, breeding in high northern latitudes and migrating south in the autumn.

Brant

²

[ brant ]

noun

1. Joseph Thayendanegea, 1742–1807, Mohawk Indian chief who fought on the side of the British in the American Revolution.
2. a male given name.

brant

/ brænt /

noun

1. a small goose, Branta bernicla, that has a dark grey plumage and short neck and occurs in most northern coastal regions Also called (in Britain and certain other countries)brent goose

Word History and Origins

Origin of brant¹

First recorded in 1535–45; short for brantgoose, brentgoose; akin to Old Norse brandgās, German Brandgans

Example Sentences

The road would traverse a narrow isthmus densely dotted with shallow fresh water ponds that separates lagoons holding the world’s largest eel grass beds vital to emperor geese, brant and eiders.

From Seattle Times

Izembek Lagoon holds one of the world’s largest beds of eelgrass, a rich food source for Pacific brant geese, endangered Steller’s eider sea ducks and other migratory birds.

From Seattle Times

Teshekpuk Lake serves as molting area for one-fifth of the world’s Pacific black brant and calving grounds for tens of thousands of caribou each summer.

From Seattle Times

Gulls, ducks and brants, a type of goose, in Flushing Meadows Park in Queens.Credit...

From New York Times

The refuge is a breeding ground for nearly all of the world’s Pacific black brant geese and home to other rare and threatened waterfowl populations.

From Washington Times