brimstone

[ brim-stohn ]

noun

1. sulfur.
2. a virago; shrew.

brimstone

/ ˈbrɪmˌstəʊn /

noun

1. an obsolete name for sulphur
2. a common yellow butterfly, Gonepteryx rhamni , of N temperate regions of the Old World: family Pieridae
3. archaic.
   a scolding nagging woman; virago

Other Words From

• brimstony adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of brimstone¹

before 1150; Middle English brinston, etc., late Old English brynstān. See burn ¹, stone

Word History and Origins

Origin of brimstone¹

Old English brynstān ; related to Old Norse brennistein ; see burn ¹, stone

Example Sentences

I was used to the fire and brimstone rhetoric at this point, but the idea that you could be “out of your mind” was new to me.

From Vox

Some lawmakers were more hellfire-and-brimstone than others.

From The Daily Beast

From Cyrus on, however, it was all, to borrow another Biblical allusion, fire and brimstone.

From The Daily Beast

Creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss brought the fire and brimstone this season, and for this, deserve the shiny hardware.

From The Daily Beast

Mrs. Lincoln, who is a bit of a Bible-thumper, is strongly depicted in the film instead as a fire-and-brimstone conservative.

From The Daily Beast

Having never played a villain before, DiCaprio relishes in the opportunity, spewing fire and brimstone.

From The Daily Beast

They used to declare that every unbaptised baby would go to Hell and burn for ever in fire and brimstone.

From Project Gutenberg

Ain't got used to brimstone yet, but I'd trade mosquitoes for sulphur smoke and give some boot.

From Project Gutenberg

Let equal portions of salt and slaked lime be in one; salt and wood ashes in another; and salt and brimstone in a third.

From Project Gutenberg

Heave ahead, my lads,” cried the slave captain; “and below there, get those brimstone-pans going at once.

From Project Gutenberg

Those devils there emptying cargoes of lost souls into the brimstone pits,—surely they could not be men!

From Project Gutenberg