BRAND

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, torch, sword, from Old English; akin to Old English bærnan to burn Date: before 12th century 1. a charred piece of wood, fire~ 1, something (as lightning) that resembles a fire~, sword , 3. a. a mark made by burning with a hot iron to attest manufacture or quality or to designate ownership, a printed mark made for similar purposes ; trademark , b. a mark put on criminals with a hot iron, a mark of disgrace ; stigma , 4. a class of goods identified by name as the product of a single firm or manufacturer ; make , a characteristic or distinctive kind , ~ name 2, a tool used to produce a ~, II. transitive verb Date: 15th century to mark with a ~, to mark with disapproval ; stigmatize , to impress indelibly , ~er noun