brawn
UK[brɔːn]US[brɑːn]
n
Strong muscles, especially when large and noticeable; physical strength in contrast to intelligence.
n
(British) A type of cold meat made from the chopped meat of a pig's head, set in its own jelly.
Etymology
The word 'brawn' entered Middle English from the Old French 'braon', meaning a slice of meat, particularly flesh from a muscle. This Old French term is itself of Germanic origin, likely from Frankish brādon- or a related West Germanic word for 'roasted meat' or 'ham'. The semantic journey is from a specific cut of meat, prized for its muscular quality, to the concept of muscular flesh itself, and finally to the abstract quality of muscular strength. The British culinary sense of 'brawn' as a jellied meat preserve directly continues the original focus on prepared flesh.
Analysis
The word 'brawn' is a simplex word of Germanic origin. It does not contain separable morphemes in its modern English form.
Examples
The job requires more brain than brawn.
He's known more for his intellectual prowess than his physical brawn.
For Sunday lunch, they served a traditional terrine of brawn with pickles.