In honour of Tony Blairs replacement as PM in Britain, Mr Gordon Brown, Ive had a look at the name Brown, the fifth most common name in Britain and the fourth most common in Australia.
Its not surprising that it mostly refers to the colour originally a person with brown hair or brown eyes. However, it could also come from the old Gaelic word brehons meaning judge. In Old English, the word was brun.
To be browned off means to feel annoyed or angry, and being in a brown study or mood means to be contemplative.
A brown cow was a term for a beer barrel, from the rounded shape of a milking cow, so to wander around like browns cows means to wander drunkenly.
As brown as a berry means suntanned, although it seems odd, because berries are usually red, not brown.
To brown-nose is a vulgar term for trying to please or flatter someone in authority, in an obsequious manner.
Brown-bagging means taking your supplies with you (such as your lunch in a brown paper bag).
Brown goods are house-hold appliances such as the television set or audio equipment.
Brownie points are imaginary awards, and come from the Brownies, the junior branch of the Girl Guides, which is headed by the Brown Owl. Brownies earn points for doing good deeds.
I wonder how many Brownie points Mr Brown will accrue while in office?
Happy puzzling!
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