Meanings
brant1
plural brants
- CanadaUSAny of several wild geese, of the genus Branta, that breed in the Arctic, but especially the brent goose, Branta bernicla.
I have given you roe and reindeer, / I have given you brant and beaver, / Filled the marshes full of wild-fowl, / Filled the rivers full of fishes; / Why then are you not contented? / Why then will you hunt each other?
1855, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, “Book I”, in The Song of Hiawatha
brant2
comparative more brant · superlative most brant · alternative brent
- dialectalsteep, precipitous.
Grapes grow on the brant rocks so wonderfully that ye will marvel how any man dare climb up to them.
1551, Roger Ascham, letter to Mr. Edward Raven
Brant3
- A surname.
- A place in the United States:
- A township and unincorporated community therein, in Saginaw County, Michigan.
- A town in Erie County, New York.
- An unincorporated community in the town of Chilton, Calumet County, Wisconsin.
- A hamlet in Vulcan County, Alberta, Canada.
- A municipality in Ontario, Canada, named Brant County or the County of Brant.
- A river, the River Brant in Lincolnshire, England, a tributary of the River Witham.
Synonyms & antonyms
nounsmall dark geese that breed in the north and migrate southward
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
brant · noun
- Proto-Germanic*brandaz“burning”
- Old Norsebrandgás“sheldrake”
- Medieval LatinBranta
- Englishbrant
From New Latin/Medieval Latin Branta, latinized form of Old Norse brandgás (“sheldrake”), literally "burnt (black) goose," from Proto-Germanic *brandaz (“burning”) + *gans (“goose”).
More words from Medieval Latin, Old Norse, Proto-Germanic
Full word history & related roots →brant · adjective
- Proto-Germanic*brantaz“steep, towering”
- Proto-West Germanic*brant
- Old Englishbrant“high, steep”
- Middle Englishbrant
- Englishbrant
From Middle English brant, from Old English brant (“high, steep”), from Proto-West Germanic *brant, from Proto-Germanic *brantaz (“steep, towering”). Cognate with Scots brent, Old Norse brantr, brattr (Faroese and Icelandic brattur, Danish brat, Norwegian Bokmål bratt, Swedish brant).
More words from Middle English, Old English, Proto-West Germanic
Full word history & related roots →Brant · proper noun
English, German, Jewish and Dutch surname, variant of Brand. The family name Brant is of German origin and is derived from the Old High German word "brant," meaning "fire" or "flame." It is believed to have originally been a nickname for someone with a fiery or passionate personality. The family name Brant has several variations that have emerged over time. One common variation is Brandt, which is a popular spelling in Germany and other European countries. Another variation is Bronte, which has Italian origins and is associated with the famous Bronte sisters. Brantley is another variation that has gained popularity in recent years, particularly in the United States. This variation adds a suffix to the original name, giving it a more modern and unique sound. Brantson is yet another variation that has emerged, often used as a surname or a given name. It adds a suffix to the original name, similar to Brantley. These variations of the family name Brant showcase the diverse ways in which names can evolve and adapt over time. The municipality in Ontario is named after Mohawk political leader Joseph Brant (1743 - 1807).
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Bulgarian черна гъска
- черна гъска (černa găska)wild geese of the genus Branta
Czech berneška
- berneškawild geese of the genus Branta
Dutch zwarte gans, zeegans
- zwarte ganswild geese of the genus Branta
- zeeganswild geese of the genus Branta
Finnish kirjohanhi
- kirjohanhiwild geese of the genus Branta
French bernarche
- bernarchewild geese of the genus Branta
German Meergans
- Meerganswild geese of the genus Branta
Icelandic margæs
- margæswild geese of the genus Branta
Polish bernikla
- berniklawild geese of the genus Branta
Portuguese barnacle, bernaca
- barnaclewild geese of the genus Branta
- bernacawild geese of the genus Branta
Russian каза́рка
- каза́рка (kazárka)wild geese of the genus Branta
Spanish barnacla
- barnaclawild geese of the genus Branta
Swedish brantagås
- brantagåswild geese of the genus Branta
Ukrainian каза́рка
- каза́рка (kazárka)wild geese of the genus Branta
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with brant
Cite this entry
brant. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/brant
“brant.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/brant. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “brant,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/brant.
Source: brant on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.