brig
UK[brɪɡ]US[brɪɡ]
n
A type of sailing ship with two square-rigged masts.
n
A prison on a warship, or a military prison.
Etymology
The word 'brig' presents a concise etymological journey from piracy to naval authority. It originated as a 17th-century shortening of 'brigantine', a swift, maneuverable sailing vessel favored by pirates and privateers. The term's association with confinement emerged in the 18th century when such ships, particularly captured ones, were repurposed as naval prison hulks. Thus, the modern word encapsulates both a specific ship design and, through a logical historical extension, the place of punishment aboard a vessel, solidifying its dual meaning in maritime and military contexts.
Analysis
The word is a simplex loanword. Its direct origin is the shortening of the word 'brigantine', a type of two-masted sailing ship. 'Brigantine' itself comes from Italian 'brigantino', meaning 'pirate ship', derived from 'brigante' (brigand, pirate).
Examples
The historical reenactment featured a fully restored 18th-century brig.
The disobedient sailor was sentenced to three days in the brig.
Pirates often used a brig for its speed and agility in coastal waters.