brawn

UK: /ˈbrɔːn/ US: /brɔn/ ,(brôn)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

brawn /brɔn/   n. [uncountable]

1. strong, well-developed muscles:
   In those sexy soap operas he gets a chance to display his brawn.
2. muscular strength:
   It was a case of brains winning out over brawn.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

brawn  (brôn), n. 

1. strong, well-developed muscles.
2. muscular strength.
3. Food [Chiefly Brit.]
   • Food a boar's or swine's flesh, esp. when boiled and pickled.
   • Food headcheese.

• Gmc; compare German Braten joint of meat, akin to Old English brǣd flesh
• Old French braon slice of flesh (Provencal bradon)
• Middle English brawne 1275–1325

Synonyms

• 2.. brawniness, robustness, muscle, sturdiness, might, power.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

brawn / brɔːn/ noun

1. strong well-developed muscles
2. physical strength, esp as opposed to intelligence
3. a seasoned jellied loaf made from the head and sometimes the feet of a pig or calf

Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French braon slice of meat, of Germanic origin; compare Old High German brāto, Old English brǣd flesh