I. ˈbrim ( usual US pronunc ), ˈbrēm sometimes ˈbrem noun
( plural bream or breams )
Etymology: Middle English brem, breme, from Middle French breme, bresme, brasme, from Old French braisme, bresme, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German brahsima, brahsema bream, Old Saxon bressemo, Middle Dutch & Middle Low German bressem, brassem bream, Old High German brettan to draw a sword — more at braid
1. : a European freshwater cyprinid fish ( Abramis brama ) of little value as food with a narrow deep body and arched back ; broadly : any of certain related fishes (as the golden shiner of No. America)
2. : any of various fishes somewhat resembling the European bream in form: as
a. : any fish of the family Sparidae — compare porgy
b. : any of various freshwater sunfishes of Lepomis and related genera ; especially : bluegill
c. : rosefish — compare black bream , sea bream
II. ˈbrēm transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: probably from Dutch brem furze, from Middle Dutch bremme, brimme; akin to Old English brōm broom; from the use of burning furze in the cleaning — more at broom
: to clean (a ship's bottom) by means of fire and scraping