~ 1
■ noun a device for slowing or stopping a moving vehicle, typically by applying pressure to the wheels.
■ verb slow or stop a moving vehicle using a ~.
Origin
C18: of unknown origin.
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~ 2
■ noun historical an open horse-drawn carriage with four wheels.
Origin
C19: var. of break 2 .
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~ 3
■ noun
1》 a toothed instrument used for crushing flax and hemp.
2》 (also ~ harrow ) a heavy machine formerly used for breaking up large lumps of earth.
Origin
ME: perh. related to break 1 .
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~ 4
■ noun a thicket.
Origin
OE bracu (orig. in the plural in fearnbraca 'thickets of fern'), related to Mid. Low Ger. ~ 'branch, stump'.
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~ 5
■ noun a coarse fern of warm countries, typically with fronds divided into long segments. [Genus Pteris .]
↘ archaic bracken.
Origin
ME: perh. an abbrev. of bracken (interpreted as plural).
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~ 6
archaic past of break 1 .