bruise

bruise
\ \ [OE] Modern English bruise is a blend of words from two sources. The main contributor is Old English brysan, which as well as ‘bruise’ meant ‘crush to pieces’, and is related to Latin frustumpiece broken or cut off’. But then in the early Middle English period we begin to see the influence of the unrelated Old French verb bruisierbreak’ and its Anglo-Norman form bruser (which in modern French has become briser). Their main effect has been on the spelling of the word, although the use of bruise for ‘break’ from the 14th to the 17th century seems to have been due to French influence too, rather than a survival of the Old English meaning: ‘Had his foot once slipped … he would have been bruised in pieces’, The most dangerous and memorable adventure of Richard Ferris 1590. Bruiserlarge rough man’ originated in an 18th-century term for a prizefighter.
\ \ Cf.DÉBRIS

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • Bruise — (br[udd]z), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Bruised}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Bruising}.] [OE. brusen, brisen, brosen, bresen, AS. br?san or fr. OF. bruiser, bruisier, bruser, to break, shiver, perh. from OHG. brochis[=o]n. Cf. {Break}, v. t.] 1. To injure, as by… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Bruise — Bruise, n. An injury to the flesh of animals, or to plants, fruit, etc., with a blunt or heavy instrument, or by collision with some other body; a contusion; as, a bruise on the head; bruises on fruit. [1913 Webster] From the sole of the foot… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Bruise — Bruise, v. i. To fight with the fists; to box. [1913 Webster] Bruising was considered a fine, manly, old English custom. Thackeray. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • bruise — vb *crush, mash, smash, squash, macerate Analogous words: batter, mangle, *maim: *press, squeeze bruise n *wound, contusion, trauma, traumatism, lesion …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • bruise — [n] black and blue mark under skin black eye, black mark, blemish, boo boo*, contusion, discoloration, injury, mark, mouse*, swelling, wale, wound; concept 309 bruise [v] break blood vessel; discolor bang up, batter, beat, black, blacken, blemish …   New thesaurus

  • bruise — ► NOUN 1) an injury appearing as an area of discoloured skin on the body, caused by a blow rupturing underlying blood vessels. 2) a similar area of damage on a fruit, vegetable, or plant. ► VERB 1) inflict a bruise on. 2) be susceptible to… …   English terms dictionary

  • bruise — [bro͞oz] vt. bruised, bruising [ME bruisen < OE brysan, to crush, pound < IE base * bhreus , to smash, crush; ME form & meaning infl. by OFr bruisier, to break, shatter < Gaul * brus < same IE base] 1. to injure (body tissue), as by a …   English World dictionary

  • bruise — index beat (strike), damage, harm, ill use, lash (strike), mistreat, mutilate …   Law dictionary

  • Bruise — Black and blue redirects here. For other uses, see Black and Blue (disambiguation). Bruises redirects here. For the 2008 rock song, see Bruises (song). Bruise Classification and external resources Bruises from a ladder fall …   Wikipedia

  • bruise — [[t]bru͟ːz[/t]] bruises, bruising, bruised 1) N COUNT A bruise is an injury which appears as a purple mark on your body, although the skin is not broken. How did you get that bruise on your cheek?... She was treated for cuts and bruises. 2) V ERG …   English dictionary

  • Bruise — A bruise or "contusion" is an traumatic injury of the soft tissues which results in breakage of the local capillaries and leakage of red blood cells. In the skin it can be seen as a reddish purple discoloration that does not blanch when …   Medical dictionary

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