firebrand
A torch or other burning stick with a flame at one endA torch or other burning stick with a flame at one end.
» This candidate used to be left-wing firebrand.
Tatoeba contributors · Tatoeba · CC BY 2.0 FRMeaning
2 sensesA torch or other burning stick with a flame at one end.
The crowd cheered as a firebrand was tossed onto the huge pile of wood to start the traditional homecoming bonfire.
головня́golovnjá, голове́шкаgolovéška, фа́келfákel
головня́holovnjá, голове́шкаholovéška, ґалаґа́нgalagán
(figuratively)An argumentative troublemaker or revolutionary; one who agitates against the status quo.
The member of the college's Communist League was a firebrand who would launch a sit-in or protest march at a moment's notice.
Aufrührer, Aufwiegler, Rädelsführer
зачи́нщикzačínščik, зачи́нщицаzačínščica, подстрека́тельpodstrekátelʹ
- a piece of wood that has been burned or is burning
- someone who deliberately foments trouble
Examples
5 sentencesThis candidate used to be left-wing firebrand.
Go and read, please, what this firebrand is writing to me!
As when in mighty multitudes bursts out / sedition, and the wrathful rabble rave; / rage finds them arms; stones, firebrands fly about.
Charlie Kirk was a far-right firebrand.
"For God's sake, madam," answered the worthy divine, "add not fuel to firebrands."
Translations
8 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 2
By meaning 1
Origin
From Middle English fyr-brand, furbrond, equivalent to fire + brand. Cognate with German FFrom Middle English fyr-brand, furbrond, equivalent to fire + brand. Cognate with German Feuerbrand (“firebrand”).
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Forms
plural: firebrands| Singular | firebrand |
|---|---|
| Plural | firebrands |
regular
Synonyms
8 synonyms- a piece of wood that has been burned or is burning:brand
- someone who deliberately foments trouble:instigatorprovokerinciterinstigant
Word family
2 related wordsSee also
neighbours in the dictionaryDictionary text adapted from Wiktionary (Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0) and Open English WordNet / Princeton WordNet (CC BY 4.0, WordNet License); shared under CC BY-SA 4.0. Example sentences and recordings are credited where they appear.