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You are here: Home / Language / Where Did the Term “Brand New” Come From and What is the Original Meaning of the Word “Brand”?

Where Did the Term “Brand New” Come From and What is the Original Meaning of the Word “Brand”?

July 11, 2020 by Karen Hill

The original meaning of the word brand was a fire burning within a furnace or forge.

To say an item, whether pottery or forged metal, was “brand new” meant it was fresh from the fires of its creation.

This usage dates back to the sixteenth century.

The verb to brand comes from the same source and means to mark ownership on something, from wine casks to livestock, using a hot iron from a fire.

The term “brand new” is often used for something recently manufactured.

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Filed Under: Language

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

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