BRASS MONKEY Meaning and
Definition
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The term "brass monkey" refers to two distinct meanings, one being a historical naval reference and the other pertaining to a type of cocktail. In the naval context, a brass monkey was a holder or stand used to stack cannonballs aboard ships. It consisted of a brass plate with semicircular indentations that held the cannonballs in place, forming a pyramid shape. The term is derived from the idea that extreme cold weather would cause the metal balls to contract, potentially causing them to fall off the plate or "break the monkey's brass" if the metal expanded due to high temperatures.
Besides its nautical usage, "brass monkey" is also synonymous with a mixed alcoholic drink typically made with equal parts of dark rum, orange liqueur, and lime juice served over ice. The cocktail's name is said to have originated from the naval reference, suggesting the chilling effect that the cold weather has on the body, akin to the drink's refreshing and invigorating nature. The term is often informally used to refer to any cold beverage or even extreme weather conditions.
In summary, the term "brass monkey" encompasses a historical naval reference to a cannonball holder, as well as a delightful cocktail made from rum, orange liqueur, and lime juice. Both usages evoke associations with coldness and freezing temperatures, highlighting the semantic connection between the two meanings.
Common Misspellings for BRASS MONKEY
- vrass monkey
- nrass monkey
- hrass monkey
- grass monkey
- beass monkey
- bdass monkey
- bfass monkey
- btass monkey
- b5ass monkey
- b4ass monkey
- brzss monkey
- brsss monkey
- brwss monkey
- brqss monkey
- braas monkey
- brazs monkey
- braxs monkey
- brads monkey
- braes monkey
Etymology of BRASS MONKEY
The term "brass monkey" has a fascinating etymology. It is primarily known as a phrase used in the expression "cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey", which means extremely cold weather. However, it also refers to a specific historical object.
The most widely accepted theory traces the etymology to the use of brass trays or frames called "brass monkeys" on ships during the age of sail. These trays were used to hold or stack cannonballs on naval ships. As the nickname suggests, they were typically made of brass due to the material's resistance to corrosion.
During very cold weather, brass contracts more rapidly than the iron cannonballs it held, potentially causing the cannonballs to dislodge and roll off. Therefore, the belief goes that extremely cold temperatures could freeze the moisture on the brass monkey, making it cold enough to shrink and cause the cannonballs to fall.
Idioms with the word BRASS MONKEY
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be cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey
The idiom "be cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey" is a humorous way to describe extremely cold weather conditions. It suggests that the temperature is so frigid that it could cause the metal balls of a brass monkey - a common decorative item often used as a base for holding or displaying other objects - to freeze and fall off.
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cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey
The idiom "cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey" is a colorful way of describing extremely cold weather. It implies that the temperature is so bitterly cold that it can freeze small metallic balls off a hypothetical brass sculpture or ornament of a monkey.
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brass monkey weather
The idiom "brass monkey weather" refers to extremely cold weather.
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brass monkey
The idiom "brass monkey" refers to extremely cold weather or temperatures. It can also refer to a high degree of frostbite or other such injury caused by exposure to cold.
Similar spelling words for BRASS MONKEY
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