firebrand

WOTD – 7 October 2009    

English

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /ˈfaɪə.bɹænd/
• (US) IPA: /ˈfaɪɚ.bɹænd/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Noun

firebrand (plural firebrands)

1. An argumentative troublemaker or revolutionary; one who agitates against the current situation.

   The member of the college's Communist League was a firebrand who would launch a sit-in or protest march at a moment's notice.

2. A torch or other burning stick with a flame at one end.

   The crowd cheered as a firebrand was tossed on the huge pile of wood to start the traditional homecoming bonfire.

Translations

argumentative troublemaker or revolutionary

• Bulgarian: подстрекател (bg) (podstrekatel) m
• Finnish: palopuhuja (fi)
• French: énergumène (fr) m and f
• Hebrew: מחרחר (he) (mecharcher) m

• Polish: podżegacz (pl) m, podżegaczka (pl) f
• Russian: зачинщик (ru) (zachinschick) m, подстрекатель (ru) (podstrekatel') m

torch or other burning stick

• Bulgarian: главня (bg) (glavnja) f
• Finnish: soihtu (fi)
• French: torche (fr) f

• Maori: mōmotu (mi), motumotu (mi), mōunga (mi)
• Norwegian: fakkel (no) m
• Spanish: tea, tizón