2006-06-27 12:47:25 · 2 answers · asked by gregory 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
Yes, indeed, but it's not directly related to "brand" as in "brand name", as you may be thinking.
"Brand" in Old English means "a burning piece of wood (just taken from the fire), a torch", later called a "firebrand" (the root is related to the word "BURN"). In the 16th century it gained the meaning "identifying mark made by burning (with a hot iron)".
"Brand (name)" is a 19th century coinage, with an obvious connection to the branding of cattle with a distinctive identifying mark.
"Brand new" is not so very new -- it is connected to the earlier senses of the word, appearing by 1570 with the sense of "new as if fresh from the fire".
2006-06-27 13:17:32 · answer #1 · answered by bruhaha 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"brand new" means "very new", or "the newest"
"brand" could mean "kind" or "type" but also "manufacturer" (as in "brand name") or "mark" (as in branding cattle)
so maybe it could refer to the latest or newest offering from a manufacturer brand, or like cattle, it is so new it's just been branded, hence brand new
2006-06-28 18:51:52 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋