Brown | Webster's Dictionary (1865)

Brown, n.

noun

n. A dark color inclining to red or yellow, resulting from the mixture of red, black, and yellow; a tawny, dusky hue.

Brown, a.

adjective

a. [compar. BROWNER; superl. BROWNEST.] [A-S. brūn, D. bruin, Icel. brúnn, Sw. brun, Dan. bruun, O. H. Ger. prûn, M. H. Ger. brûn, N. H. Ger. braun, Fr. & Pr. brun, It., Sp., & Pg. bruno. The root is A-S. beornan, byrnan, brinnan, Eng. burn, Ger. brennen, brennen. Cf. A-S. bryne, Icel. bruni, burning.] Dusky; of a dark or dusky color, of various shades, inclining to red or yellow. “Cheeks brown as the oak leaves.” Longfellow.

Brown, v. t.

verbtransitive

[imp. & p. p. BROWNED; p. pr. & vb. n. BROWNING.] 1. To make brown or dusky. A trembling twilight o’er the welkin moves. Browns the dim void and darkens deep the groves. Barlow. 2. To give a bright brown color to, as gun-barrels, by forming a thin, uniform coat of oxide on their surface. Ure.