brittle
English
/ˈbɹɪtl̩/
adj
Definitions
- Inflexible, liable to break or snap easily under stress or pressure.
- Not physically tough or tenacious; apt to break or crumble when bending.
- (archaeology) Said of rocks and minerals with a conchoidal fracture; capable of being knapped or flaked.
- Emotionally fragile, easily offended.
- (informal) Diabetes that is characterized by dramatic swings in blood sugar level.
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English britel inherited from Old English *brytel suffix from English brit.
Origin
English
brit
Gloss
Timeline
Distribution of cognates by language
Geogrpahic distribution of cognates
Cognates and derived terms
- brit English
- brittle star English
- brittlebush English
- brittlegill English
- brittlely English
- brittleness English
- brittlestem English
- brittly English
- bush English
- embrittle English
- embrittlement English
- gill English
- nonbrittle English
- star English
- stem English
- *brytel Old English
- britel Middle English
- brytten Middle English