breinbaas

Dutch

FWOTD – 27 May 2021

Etymology

Coined by Marten Toonder. Compound of brein (“brain, mastermind”) +‎ baas (“boss”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbrɛi̯n.baːs/

• Audio:

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• Hyphenation: brein‧baas

Noun

breinbaas m (plural breinbazen, diminutive breinbaasje n)

1. cunning mastermind, sly weasel, brainy person
   • 2017 September 4, Erik Voermans, “Walter Becker (1950-2017): Breinbaas achter Steely Dan”, in Het Parool:

     Becker en Fagen ontpopten zich als de breinbazen van de groep, die Steely Dan ging heten, […]

     Becker and Fagen gradually grew to be the clever masterminds of the group, that came to be called Steely Dan, […]