A yellow alloy of copper and zinc; also referring to brass musical instruments or military officers collectively.
From Old English 'bræs' of uncertain origin, possibly related to 'brazen'. The metal has been known since ancient times, and the word has expanded to encompass musical instruments made from brass and high-ranking military officials (from their brass insignia).
Brass is fascinating because it's an entirely human-made material - unlike gold or copper, brass doesn't exist in nature and must be deliberately created by combining metals. The phrase 'brass tacks' reflects the metal's association with fundamental, practical matters in American frontier commerce.
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