firebrand en · NOUN
Pronunciation
Etymology
From Middle English fyr-brand, furbrond, equivalent to fire + brand. Cognate with German Feuerbrand (“firebrand”).
Meanings
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A torch or other burning stick with a flame at one end.
He that is inebriated with passion is unfit for any action; like Samson's foxes, he scattereth firebrands abroad, to the hurt of all that are near him.
1868, George Swinnock, Works - Volume 2 - Page 212:The crowd cheered as a firebrand was tossed onto the huge pile of wood to start the traditional homecoming bonfire.
[…] he filled all their throats with it, so that those poor wretches were by it made to cough like foxes, crying, Ha, Pantagruel, how how thou addest greater heat to the firebrand that is in us.
1807, François Rabelais, Mr. Ozell (John), Sir Thomas Urquhart, The Works of Francis Rabelais - Volume 2 - Page 182
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(figuratively) An argumentative troublemaker or revolutionary; one who agitates against the status quo.
Both Malcolm and King were firebrands. And both were disciplined organisers of people. Malcolm was able to channel the anger of a crowd into action, but then to ensure they did not descend into violence.
2015 February 20, Jesse Jackson, “In the Ferguson era, Malcolm X’s courage in fighting racism inspires more than ever”, in The Guardian (London), archived from the original on 27 Nov 2020:The member of the college's Communist League was a firebrand who would launch a sit-in or protest march at a moment's notice.
At the same time, Mr. Irons said, it is important to separate “this very valiant and completely kosher and clean repository of public material, which we perfectly endorse, and this kind of firebrand ‘We want to show the publishers they’re wrong’ kind of attitude.”
2011 February 22, Daniel J. Wakin, “Free Trove of Music Scores on Web Hits Sensitive Copyright Note”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 05 Aug 2020:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| firebrands | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
Synonyms
troublemaker · revolutionary · radical
Translations (87)
es tizón (torch or other burning stick) · gl facho (torch or other burning stick) · fi soihtu (torch or other burning stick) · hu lázító (argumentative troublemaker or revolutionary) · he מחרחר (argumentative troublemaker or revolutionary) · ru головня́ (torch or other burning stick) · te కొరవి (torch or other burning stick) · fr torche (torch or other burning stick) · sv brandfackla (torch or other burning stick) · sv fyrsticka (torch or other burning stick) · de Aufrührer (argumentative troublemaker or revolutionary) · fr brandon (torch or other burning stick) · ru подстрека́тель (argumentative troublemaker or revolutionary) · de Rädelsführer (argumentative troublemaker or revolutionary) · gl gavizo (torch or other burning stick) · ru подстрека́тельница (argumentative troublemaker or revolutionary) · pl żagiew (torch or other burning stick) · bg главня́ (torch or other burning stick) · pt brandão (torch or other burning stick) · fr tison (torch or other burning stick) · tl agipo (torch or other burning stick) · no fakkel (torch or other burning stick) · nl oproerkraaier (argumentative troublemaker or revolutionary) · fur stiç (torch or other burning stick) · he אוּד (torch or other burning stick) · it tizzone (torch or other burning stick) · enm brand (torch or other burning stick) · be галаве́шка (torch or other burning stick) · fi palopuhuja (argumentative troublemaker or revolutionary) · sv fyrsticka (argumentative troublemaker or revolutionary) · es agitador (argumentative troublemaker or revolutionary) · gl axitador (argumentative troublemaker or revolutionary) · ru смутья́н (argumentative troublemaker or revolutionary) · ru фа́кел (torch or other burning stick) · sv brandfackla (argumentative troublemaker or revolutionary) · fr agitateur (argumentative troublemaker or revolutionary) · uk недо́гарок (torch or other burning stick) · pt tocha (torch or other burning stick) · uk голове́шка (torch or other burning stick) · pl podżegacz (argumentative troublemaker or revolutionary) · hu felforgató (argumentative troublemaker or revolutionary) · it tizzo (torch or other burning stick) · unm pëlitay (torch or other burning stick) · gl guizo (torch or other burning stick) · de Radikalinski (argumentative troublemaker or revolutionary) · ru голове́шка (torch or other burning stick) · gl brandón (torch or other burning stick) · ar شُعْلَة (torch or other burning stick) · pl głownia (torch or other burning stick) · es tea (torch or other burning stick) · ka მუგუზალი (torch or other burning stick) · bg подстрека́тел (argumentative troublemaker or revolutionary) · uk ґалаґа́н (torch or other burning stick) · gl chamizo (torch or other burning stick) · uk головня́ (torch or other burning stick) · ru зачи́нщица (argumentative troublemaker or revolutionary) · es instigador (argumentative troublemaker or revolutionary) · ang brand (torch or other burning stick) · gl fachuzo (torch or other burning stick) · da fakkel (torch or other burning stick) · hu bajkeverő (argumentative troublemaker or revolutionary) · hy խանձող (torch or other burning stick) · pt facho (torch or other burning stick) · ca brandó (torch or other burning stick) · nl onruststoker (argumentative troublemaker or revolutionary) · tl dupong (torch or other burning stick) · be галаўня́ (torch or other burning stick) · ru зачи́нщик (argumentative troublemaker or revolutionary) · de Aufwiegler (argumentative troublemaker or revolutionary) · mi ngotungotu (torch or other burning stick) · mi tōroherohe (torch or other burning stick) · la torris (torch or other burning stick) · pl pochodnia (torch or other burning stick) · mi mōunga (torch or other burning stick) · mi motumotu (torch or other burning stick) · ru смутья́нка (argumentative troublemaker or revolutionary) · sga gorn (torch or other burning stick) · de Sponti (argumentative troublemaker or revolutionary) · mi ngōngotu (torch or other burning stick) · pl podżegaczka (argumentative troublemaker or revolutionary) · mi mōmotu (torch or other burning stick) · fr trublion (argumentative troublemaker or revolutionary) · es teda (torch or other burning stick) · nl fakkel (torch or other burning stick) · nl stokebrand (argumentative troublemaker or revolutionary) · la titio (torch or other burning stick) · ga aithinne (torch or other burning stick)