Brown Bess en · NOUN
Etymology
From an archaic meaning of brown, meaning plain or ordinary, and Bess, a nickname for Elizabeth associated with the lower class and prostitutes.
Meanings
- (informal) The British Army's Land Pattern Musket or any of its derivatives, standard-issue weapons for British soldiers in the American Revolution.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brown Besses | Number=Plur | lexicographic |