brunt
- 01 C2 Proficiency
the main force of an enemy's attack in a battle.
the main force or shock of a military attack or charge.
Simple“The infantry units took the brunt of the enemy's first assault.”
In context“The forward battalion was positioned to absorb the brunt of the initial charge, allowing the cavalry to prepare a counter-attack from the flank.”
Teacher's tipThis sense is less common in modern speech and is usually found in historical or military literature.
“As with Hurricane Lala, the Big Island is expected to bear the brunt of Moke’s rain and heavy winds as it passes south of a direct hit late on Saturday and into Sunday.”
“Hajio is one of many experiencing the brunt of these cuts.”
From Middle English brunt, bront (“sudden onset, attack, charge, blow”), from Old Norse brundr or brundtíð (“oestrus, rut”) (from Proto-Germanic *brunstiz), or bruna (“to rush”, literally “to advance like wildfire”) (see brenna).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.