Brass, subs. (popular).—1. Impudence; effrontery; brass being a type of unblushing hardness, shamelessness, etc. This colloquialism is by no means of yesterday, having been used by Shakspeare. Sometimes rendered BOLD AS BRASS. Cf., Cheek, which also see for synonyms.
1594. Shakspeare, Love's Labour Lost, v., 2, 395. Biron. Thus pour the stars down plagues for perjury. Can any face of brass hold longer out?
1701. Defoe, True Born Englishman, pt. II. By my Old Friend [The Devil], who printed in my face A needful competence of English brass.
1703. Farquhar, Inconstant, Act i., Sc. 2. Thou hast impudence to set a good face upon anything; I would change half my gold for half thy brass, with all my heart.
1740. North, Examen, p. 256. She in her defence made him appear such a rogue upon record, that the Chief Justice wondered he had the brass to appear in a court of justice.
1778. O. Goldsmith, She Stoops to Conquer, Act iii., Sc. 1. 'To me he appears the most impudent piece of brass that ever spoke with a tongue.'
1819. Moore, Tom Crib's Memorial to Congress, p. 68. Oh, what a face of brass was his, Who first at Congress show'd his phyz.
1852. Dickens, Bleak House, ch.lv., p. 462. 'I haven't brass enough in my composition, to see him in this place and under this charge.'
1876. C. H. Wall, trans. Molière, vol. I., p. 18. Gorgibus is a simpleton, a boor, who will readily believe everything you say, provided . . . you have brass enough.
1876. C. Hindley, Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 199. He started with a lot of tin, but had not sufficient brass or physique to stand the wear-and-tear of the life.
2. (common.)—A generic term for money. At one time money was made of brass, hence probably the slang usage. Cf., Tin.
1526. Tyndale, Matt. x., 9. Posses not golde, nor silver, nor brasse yn youre gerdels.
1597. Hall, Satires, IV., v., 12. Hirelings enow beside can be so base, Tho' we should scorn each bribing varlet's brass.
1860. Mrs. Gaskell, Sylvia's Lovers, ch. xx. 'There'll be Fosters i' th' background, as one may say, to take t' biggest share on t' profits,' said Bell. 'Ay, ay, that's but as it should be, for I reckon they'll ha' to find the brass the first.'
1864. M. E. Braddon, Aurora Floyd, ch. xii. 'Steeve's a little too fond of the brass to murder any of you for nothing.'
1884. Hawley Smart, From Post to Finish, p. 129. 'It's noa use they're telling us afterwards they ain't collared the brass.'
1889. Sporting Times, June 29. Billy Wells. What the dickens is all this about the hats? We have seventy-two telegrams and letters on the subject, and would prefer the brass.
Brass-Bound and Copper Fastened, adj. phr. (nautical)—Said of a lad dressed in a midshipman's uniform.—W. Clark Russell.
Brass-Bounder, subs. (nautical).—A midshipman.
Brasser, subs. (Christ's Hospital).—A bully.
Brass Farthing or Farde.—The lowest limit of value.—See quots.
1642. Rogers, Naaman, 33. As bare and beggarly as if he had not one brasse FARTHING. [M.]
1880. Punch's Almanac, p. 5. Nobby button'-oler very well When one wants to do the 'eavy swell; Otherwise don't care not one brass farden, For the best ever blowed in Covent Garden.
1880. Besant and Rice, Seamy Side, x., 78. I care not one brass farthing.
