brock

brock

A brock emerges from its sett at dusk.

Definition
  1. Noun:
    • A badger: "brock" is an archaic or dialectal term for a badger, a nocturnal mammal of the family Mustelidae, known for its black-and-white striped face and burrowing habits.
    • A contemptible person: In British slang (now rare or obsolete), "brock" can refer to a person regarded as despicable or low.
Usage Examples

  • Noun (badger):

    • The farmer spotted a brock digging near the hedge last night. (A badger was seen excavating soil.)
    • In old English folklore, the brock was considered a wise but solitary creature. (The badger was thought to have special qualities.)

  • Noun (contemptible person):

    • He called his dishonest business partner a brock. (He insulted him as a worthless individual.)
    • The play used the term "brock" to describe the villain's low character. (The word was used as an archaic insult.)
Advanced Usage

  • "as sly as a brock": a simile meaning very cunning or tricky, referencing the badger's reputation for elusiveness.

    • The old merchant was as sly as a brock, always avoiding taxes. (He was extremely crafty.)

  • "brock-faced": an archaic adjective describing someone with a streaked or dirty face, similar to a badger's markings.

    • The chimney sweep came home brock-faced from soot. (His face was smudged like a badger's stripes.)
Variants and Related Words

  • Brocket (n): a small deer species (Mazama americana), whose name derives from "brock" due to its badger-like colouring.

    • The brocket moved silently through the forest undergrowth. (A small deer with a reddish coat.)

  • Brockish (adj): resembling a badger in appearance or behaviour.

    • His brockish nature made him a solitary figure in the village. (He was reclusive and burrow-like.)
Synonyms
  • Badger: the standard modern term for the animal.
  • Scoundrel: a person lacking moral principles (for the contemptible sense).
  • Meles meles: the scientific name for the European badger.
Phrasal Verbs
  • (None common; "brock" is not used in modern phrasal verbs.)
Related Idioms

  • To brock out: an obsolete phrase meaning to behave like a badger, i.e., to dig or burrow persistently.

    • The children brocked out in the sandpit for hours. (They dug and played like badgers.)

  • To be a brock in the hole: an old saying meaning to be in a difficult or hidden position.

    • The politician was a brock in the hole, avoiding all public questions. (He was evasive and hidden.)