tr.v. bran·dished, bran·dish·ing, bran·dish·es To wave or flourish (something, often a weapon) in a menacing, defiant, or excited way. See Synonyms at flourish. n. A menacing, defiant, or excited wave or flourish of something. [Middle English brandissen, from Old French brandir, brandiss-, from brand, sword, of Germanic origin; see gwher- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] brandish·er n. |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.