Definition

Noun: A chronic skin condition characterized by a red, swollen, and bumpy appearance of the nose, often with visible blood vessels. This condition is frequently, though not exclusively, associated with long-term, excessive alcohol consumption.

Usage

The term "brandy nose" is a dated and informal, somewhat stigmatizing, name for a medical condition. It is used to describe the physical symptom affecting the nose. * The old sailor was easily recognized by his distinctive brandy nose. * Contrary to popular belief, not everyone with a brandy nose is an alcoholic.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often considered impolite or judgmental in modern usage, as it directly links a person's appearance to alcohol abuse. More clinical and neutral terms are preferred in medical and polite contexts.

Variants and Related Words

• Rhinophyma (n): The medical term for the severe, bulbous form of this condition, involving thickening of the skin and enlargement of the sebaceous glands on the nose.
• Rosacea (n): A broader chronic inflammatory skin condition that often affects the face. Rhinophyma/"brandy nose" is considered a potential late-stage complication of one type of rosacea.

Synonyms

• Rum nose (n): An informal synonym with the same connotations.
• Whiskey nose (n): An informal synonym with the same connotations.
• Drinker's nose (n): A more general informal term.

Related Idioms

• To have a nose like a...: This template can be used with various alcoholic beverages (e.g., "a nose like a brandy keg") as a figurative and humorous, though potentially offensive, way to describe someone with this condition.

Noun

1. enlargement of the nose with dilation of follicles and redness and prominent vascularity of the skin; often associated with excessive consumption of alcohol