brach

See also: Brach and brách

English

WOTD – 31 July 2025

Etymology 1

A brach (etymology 1, noun sense 1) of the Alpine Dachsbracke breed.

From Late Middle English brache (“hunting dog, especially a small scent hound; female dog, bitch (?); lapdog (?)”), probably a back-formation from Old French brachès, brachez, the plural of brachet (“female scent hound”), a diminutive of brac, from Old High German braccho, bracco, bracko (“scent hound”) (modern German Bracke); further etymology uncertain, possibly from Proto-Germanic *brēkijaną (compare Latin fragrō (“to emit a smell”), Middle High German bræhen (“to smell (something); to use the sense of smell; to have a (bad) smell”)), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰreHg- (“to have a strong odour, to smell”).

cognates

• Italian bracco
• Medieval Latin bracco
• Occitan brac
• Spanish braco

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA^(key): /bɹæt͡ʃ/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• Audio (General American):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ætʃ

Noun

brach (plural brachs or braches) (archaic)

2. (chiefly hunting) Originally, a synonym of scent hound (“a hunting dog that tracks prey using its sense of smell rather than by its vision”); later, any female hound; a bitch hound.

   Synonym: (obsolete) brachet

   • 1596, Tho[mas] Nashe, “Dialogus”, in Haue with You to Saffron-Walden. Or, Gabriell Harveys Hunt is Up. […], London: […] John Danter, →OCLC; republished as J[ohn] P[ayne] C[ollier], editor, Have with You to Saffron-Walden (Miscellaneous Tracts; Temp. Eliz. and Jac. I), [London: s.n., 1870], →OCLC, page 134:

     In ſome countreys no woman is ſo honourable as she that hath to doo with moſt men, and can give the luſtieſt ſtriker oddes by 25 times in one night, as Meſſalina did; and ſo it is with this his bratche, or bitch-foxe.

   • c. 1603–1606 (date written), [William Shakespeare], […] His True Chronicle Historie of the Life and Death of King Lear and His Three Daughters. […] (First Quarto), London: […] Nathaniel Butter, […], published 1608, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iv], signature [C4], verso:

     Truth is a dog that muſt to kenell, hee muſt be vvhipt out, vvhen Ladie oth'e [or the] brach may ſtand by the fire and ſtinke.

   • c. 1603–1606 (date written), [William Shakespeare], […] His True Chronicle Historie of the Life and Death of King Lear and His Three Daughters. […] (First Quarto), London: […] Nathaniel Butter, […], published 1608, →OCLC, [Act III, scene vi], signature [G4], recto:

     [A]uant you curs, / Be thy mouth, or blacke, or vvhite, tooth that poyſons if it bite, / Maſtife, grayhoũd [grayhound], mungril, grim-hoũd or ſpaniel, brach or him, / Bobtaile tike, or trũdletaile [trundletail], Tom vvill make them vveep & vvaile, […]

   • 1615, G[ervase] M[arkham], “[The Husbandmans Recreations: […].] Of Hunting, and of All the Particular Knowledges Belonging therunto.”, in Countrey Contentments, in Two Bookes: The First, Containing the Whole Art of Riding Great Horses in Very Short Time, […] The Second Intituled, The English Huswife: […], London: […] I[ohn] B[eale] for R[oger] Iackson, […], →OCLC, 1st section ([Of Hunting]), pages 25–26:

     [W]hen your Bratch is neere vvhelping, or hath vvhelpe; you ſhall ſeperate her from other Hounds, and haue a priuate Kennell for her, […] for vvhere a Bratch firſt vvhelpeth her litter, if they be remoued, ſhee vvil not leaue carrying her vvhelps vp and dovvne, til ſhee haue found the ſame place againe, or ſome other perhaps more vnfit then the former, […]

   • 1621, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], “Non-necessary, Remote, Outward, Adventitious or Accidentall Causes: As First from the Nurse”, in The Anatomy of Melancholy, […], Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] John Lichfield and Iames Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC, partition 1, section 2, member 4, subsection 1, page 190:

     A ſow pigge by chance ſucked a Brach, and vvhen ſhe vvas grovvne, vvould miraculouſly hunt all manner of Deere, and that as vvell or rather better then any ordinary hound.

     The italicized text is a translation of a quotation from Gerald of Wales’s work Itinerarium Cambriae (1191).

   • 1848, Charles Kingsley, Junior, The Saint’s Tragedy; or, The True Story of Elizabeth of Hungary, […], London: John W[illiam] Parker, […], →OCLC, Act II, scene i, page 63:

     So we'll flatter them up, and we'll cocker them up, / Till we turn young brains; / And pamper the brach till we make her a wolf, / And get bit by the legs for our pains.

3. (derogatory) A despicable or disagreeable woman; a bitch.
   • 1610 (first performance), Ben[jamin] Jonson, The Alchemist, London: […] Thomas Snodham, for Walter Burre, and are to be sold by Iohn Stepneth, […], published 1612, →OCLC, Act I, scene i, signature B2, verso:

     Avvay this Brach. I'll bring thee, Rogue, vvithin / The Statute of Sorcerie, triceſimo tertio [thirty-three] / Of Harry the eight: […]

     Referring to the Witchcraft Act 1541 (33 Henry VIII, chapter 8), enacted in the 33rd year of Henry VIII’s reign and in force in 1542.

   • c. 1632 (date written), Richard Brome, “The Weeding of the Covent-Garden. Or The Middlesex-Justice of Peace.”, in [Alex[ander] Brome], editor, Five New Playes, […], London: […] [J. T.] for A[ndrew] Crook[e] […], and for H[enry] Brome […], published 1659 (indicated as 1658), →OCLC, Act IV, scene i, page 56:

     Here's that ſhall ſtay your ſtomack better then the bit you ſnarle for. Thou greedy Brach thou.

   • 1847 December, Ellis Bell [pseudonym; Emily Brontë], chapter XIV, in Wuthering Heights: […], volume I, London: Thomas Cautley Newby, […], →OCLC, page 340:

     Now, was it not the depth of absurdity—of genuine idiocy, for that pitiful, slavish, mean-minded brach to dream that I could love her?

Related terms

• brachet
• (possibly) brat

Translations

synonym of scent hound — see scent hound

any female hound — see bitch hound

despicable or disagreeable woman — see bitch

Etymology 2

Clipping of brach(iopod).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA^(key): /bɹæk/
• Rhymes: -æk

Noun

brach (plural brachs)

1. (paleontology, informal) Clipping of brachiopod.

Translations

clipping of brachiopod — see brachiopod

Further reading

• scent hound on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• “brach, n.”, in Collins English Dictionary, 2011–present.

Anagrams

• B.Arch., Barch

Czech

Etymology

Inherited from Old Czech brach. By surface analysis, bratr (“brother”) +‎ -ch.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈbrax]
• Hyphenation: brach

Noun

brach m anim

1. (colloquial) bro
2. (colloquial) guy

Declension

Declension of brach (velar masculine animate)

	singular	plural
nominative	brach	brachové, braši
genitive	bracha	brachů
dative	brachovi, brachu	brachům
accusative	bracha	brachy
vocative	brachu	brachové, braši
locative	brachovi, brachu	braších
instrumental	brachem	brachy

Further reading

• “brach”, in Příruční slovník jazyka českého (in Czech), 1935–1957
• “brach”, in Slovník spisovného jazyka českého (in Czech), 1960–1971, 1989
• “brach”, in Internetová jazyková příručka (in Czech), 2008–2026

German

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /braːx/, [bʁaːχ]

• Audio (Germany (Berlin)):

  (file)

Etymology 1

Backformation from brachliegen, from in Brache liegen, from the noun Brache (“fallow land, fallowness”). Cognate with Dutch braak. Related with brechen (etymology 2).

Adjective

brach (strong nominative masculine singular bracher, not comparable)

1. fallow

   Synonyms: unbestellt, unbebaut

Declension

Positive forms of brach (uncomparable)

number & gender		singular			plural
		masculine	feminine	neuter
predicative		er ist brach	sie ist brach	es ist brach	sie sind brach
strong declension (without article)	nominative	bracher	brache	braches	brache
	genitive	brachen	bracher	brachen	bracher
	dative	brachem	bracher	brachem	brachen
	accusative	brachen	brache	braches	brache
weak declension (with definite article)	nominative	der brache	die brache	das brache	die brachen
	genitive	des brachen	der brachen	des brachen	der brachen
	dative	dem brachen	der brachen	dem brachen	den brachen
	accusative	den brachen	die brache	das brache	die brachen
mixed declension (with indefinite article)	nominative	ein bracher	eine brache	ein braches	(keine) brachen
	genitive	eines brachen	einer brachen	eines brachen	(keiner) brachen
	dative	einem brachen	einer brachen	einem brachen	(keinen) brachen
	accusative	einen brachen	eine brache	ein braches	(keine) brachen

Derived terms

• Brachland

Related terms

• Brache
• brachliegen (brach liegen)

Etymology 2

Verb

brach

1. first/third-person singular preterite of brechen

Irish

Etymology 1

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Noun

brach m (genitive singular bracha)

1. pus
2. discharge from eyes during sleep

Declension

Declension of brach (third declension, no plural)

bare forms singular nominative brach vocative a bhrach genitive bracha dative brach forms with the definite article singular nominative an brach genitive an bhracha dative leis an mbrach don bhrach

Derived terms

• brachaí (“bleary”, adjective) (of eyes)
• brachshúileach (“blear-eyed”, adjective)

Etymology 2

Noun

brach f (genitive singular braiche)

1. alternative form of braich (“malt”)

Declension

Declension of brach (second declension, no plural)

bare forms singular nominative brach vocative a bhrach genitive braiche dative brach forms with the definite article singular nominative an bhrach genitive na braiche dative leis an mbrach don bhrach

Verb

brach (present analytic brachann, future analytic brachfaidh, verbal noun brachadh, past participle brachta)

1. (ambitransitive) alternative form of braich (“malt”)

Conjugation

Conjugation of brach (first conjugation – A)

indicative	singular			plural			direct relative	autonomous
	first	second	third	first	second	third
present	brachaim	brachann tú; brachair†	brachann sé, sí	brachaimid; brachann muid	brachann sibh	brachann siad; brachaid†	a bhrachann; a bhrachas	brachtar
past	bhrach mé; bhrachas	bhrach tú; bhrachais	bhrach sé, sí	bhrachamar; bhrach muid	bhrach sibh; bhrachabhair	bhrach siad; bhrachadar	a bhrach	brachadh
past habitual	bhrachainn / brachainn‡	bhrachtá / brachtá‡	bhrachadh sé, sí / brachadh sé, sí‡	bhrachaimis; bhrachadh muid / brachaimis‡; brachadh muid‡	bhrachadh sibh / brachadh sibh‡	bhrachaidís; bhrachadh siad / brachaidís‡; brachadh siad‡	a bhrachadh	bhrachtaí / brachtaí‡
	singular			plural			direct relative	autonomous
	first	second	third	first	second	third
future	brachfaidh mé; brachfad	brachfaidh tú; brachfair†	brachfaidh sé, sí	brachfaimid; brachfaidh muid	brachfaidh sibh	brachfaidh siad; brachfaid†	a bhrachfaidh; a bhrachfas	brachfar
conditional	bhrachfainn / brachfainn‡	bhrachfá / brachfá‡	bhrachfadh sé, sí / brachfadh sé, sí‡	bhrachfaimis; bhrachfadh muid / brachfaimis‡; brachfadh muid‡	bhrachfadh sibh / brachfadh sibh‡	bhrachfaidís; bhrachfadh siad / brachfaidís‡; brachfadh siad‡	a bhrachfadh	bhrachfaí / brachfaí‡
subjunctive	singular			plural			direct relative	autonomous
	first	second	third	first	second	third
present	go mbracha mé; go mbrachad†	go mbracha tú; go mbrachair†	go mbracha sé, sí	go mbrachaimid; go mbracha muid	go mbracha sibh	go mbracha siad; go mbrachaid†	—	go mbrachtar
past	dá mbrachainn	dá mbrachtá	dá mbrachadh sé, sí	dá mbrachaimis; dá mbrachadh muid	dá mbrachadh sibh	dá mbrachaidís; dá mbrachadh siad	—	dá mbrachtaí
imperative	singular			plural			direct relative	autonomous
	first	second	third	first	second	third
—	brachaim	brach	brachadh sé, sí	brachaimis	brachaigí; brachaidh†	brachaidís	—	brachtar
past participle	brachta
verbal noun	brachadh

^† archaic or dialect form
^‡ dependent form

Mutation

Mutated forms of brach

radical	lenition	eclipsis
brach	bhrach	mbrach

Note: Certain mutated forms of some words can never occur in standard Modern Irish.
All possible mutated forms are displayed for convenience.

Further reading

• Ó Dónaill, Niall (1977), “brach”, in Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla [Irish–English Dictionary], Dublin: An Gúm, →ISBN

Middle High German

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): (before 13^th CE) /ˈbrax/

Verb

brach

1. first/third-person singular preterite indicative of brëchen

Old Czech

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): (13^th CE) /ˈbrax/
• IPA^(key): (15^th CE) /ˈbrax/

Etymology 1

Verb

brach

1. first-person singular aorist of bráti

Etymology 2

From bratr +‎ -ch.

Noun

brach m pers

1. diminutive of bratr
2. brother
3. friend
4. lover

Declension

Declension of brach (hard o-stem)

	singular	dual	plural
nominative	brach	brachy	braši, brachové
genitive	bracha	brachú	brachóv
dative	brachu, brachovi	brachoma	brachóm
accusative	bracha	brachy	brachy
vocative	braše	brachy	braši, brachové
locative	brachu, brachovi	brachú	brašiech
instrumental	brachem	brachoma	brachy

This table shows the most common forms around the 13th century.

Derived terms

• brachek

Descendants

• Czech: brach

References

• Jan Gebauer (1903–1916), “brach”, in Slovník staročeský (in Czech), Prague: Česká grafická společnost "unie", Česká akademie císaře Františka Josefa pro vědy, slovesnost a umění

Polish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbrax/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ax
• Syllabification: brach

Etymology 1

Clipping of brat + -ch.

Noun

brach m pers

1. (colloquial) bro (comrade or friend)

   Coordinate term: siora

Declension

Declension of brach

	singular	plural
nominative	brach	brachy
genitive	bracha	brachów
dative	brachowi	brachom
accusative	bracha	brachów
instrumental	brachem	brachami
locative	brachu	brachach
vocative	brachu	brachy

Derived terms

noun

• brachol

Etymology 2

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Noun

brach m inan

1. locative plural of ber

   Synonym: berach

Further reading

• “brach”, in Wielki słownik języka polskiego‎^[2] (in Polish), Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN
• “brach”, in Polish dictionaries at PWN‎^[3] (in Polish)