brown Bess

1 of 2

noun (1)

: the flintlock smoothbore musket with bronzed barrel that was formerly used in the British army

brown Bess

2 of 2

noun (2)

: prairie wake robin

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

brown entry 1 + Bess (nickname of Elizabeth); from the color of the stock

Noun (2)

probably alteration of brown Beth

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!