Plural of 'brunt'; the force, impact, or main force of something, typically used in phrases like 'bear the brunt' meaning to endure the worst of something.
From Middle English 'brunt' of uncertain origin, possibly from Old Norse 'bruna' or related to 'burn.' The term appeared in Middle English texts referring to the force of an impact or attack.
The phrase 'bear the brunt' has been used since medieval times for warriors who absorbed the initial charge of battle—it's why 'brunt' still means impact today, carrying the weight of actual historical combat in everyday language.
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