Muscular strength or power; also a meat made from cooked and jellied meat, often pork.
From Old French 'braon' and Old High German 'brato' meaning 'meat.' It originally referred to muscle meat as opposed to other parts of the animal.
In medieval times, 'brawn' was considered a luxury meat dish served at royal banquets, and having visible brawn (muscles) was a sign of nobility and power, which is why kings always posed to show their physiques!
Brawn (muscular strength) has been culturally coded as masculine virtue since antiquity, appearing in hero narratives and labor hierarchies that excluded women from valued physical roles.
Use 'brawn' descriptively for muscle/strength without gendering; acknowledge that strength appears across gender lines in work and sport.
["strength","muscular power","physical capability"]
Women athletes, laborers, and builders have always possessed and demonstrated brawn; historical exclusion from strength-valued fields does not reflect their actual capacity.
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