Brian

Origin

From English dialectal, probably variant of brine ("to burn"), from brine ("a burning"), from Middle English brüne ("a burn, a burning"), from Old English bryne ("a burning, conflagration, fire, flame, heat, inflammation, burn, scald, torch, fervor, passion"), from Proto-Germanic *bruniz ("fire, burning"), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰrenu- ("burn, fire"). Cognate with Scots brin ("a flash"), Scots brin, bryne ("to be on fire, be inflamed, burn"), Old Norse bruni ("fire, burning"). More at burn.

Full definition of brian

Verb

1. (dialectal, Northern England) To keep fire at the mouth of (as of an oven), to give light or to preserve heat.

Related terms

• brand

Anagrams

• abrin
• bairn
• brain
• riban