Brassbound

/ˈbræsˌbaʊnd/ adjective

Definition

Bound or reinforced with brass bands or fittings; also used metaphorically to mean rigid, obstinate, or old-fashioned.

Etymology

Compound word combining 'brass' (the metal) and 'bound' (past participle of bind), literally describing something held together with brass straps or bands.

Kelly Says

A 'brassbound' officer was a satirical military term for someone so rigid and conventional they seemed like an old piece of reinforced luggage—inflexible, outdated, and unwilling to adapt to new ideas or situations.

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