bra

bra · noun¹

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*mréǵʰus
2. Proto-Hellenic · derived from*brəkʰús“short”
3. Ancient Greek · derived fromβραχίων“forearm”
4. Latin · derived frombracchium“forearm”
5. Latin · derived frombracchia
6. Old French · derived frombrace“arm”
7. Old French · derived frombraciere
8. French · derived frombrassière
9. English todaybra

Clipping of brassiere, borrowed from French brassière, from Old French braciere (originally a lining inside armor to protect the arm, but later a garment), from Old French brace (“arm”), from Latin bracchia, plural of Latin bracchium (“forearm”), from Ancient Greek βραχίων (brakhíōn, “forearm”), from Proto-Hellenic *brəkʰús (“short”) (because the forearm is shorter than the upper arm), inherited from Proto-Indo-European *mréǵʰus.

bra · noun²

From bracket, referring to the notation introduced in 1939 by Paul Dirac.

bra · noun³

Representing a different pronunciation of bro (“brother”).

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from 1920s An item of clothing, usually underwear worn to support the breasts.