A Brig Is a Ship and Also a Ship's Prison
A brig is a two-masted sailing ship. Naval slang gave the same word to a shipboard cell.
A brig is a two-masted square-rigged sailing ship, and in naval use a shipboard prison. The word is short for *brigantine*, which comes from Italian *brigantino*, a brigand's ship — the vessel was named for pirates. The prison sense is American naval slang from the 1800s, from the practice of confining offenders aboard old brigs moored in harbour. Brigs were fast and needed a small crew, which is exactly why raiders favoured them.
- A two-masted ship. *A sailing brig.*
- A ship's prison. *Thrown in the brig.*
- Brigantine — the full word. *A brigantine.*
- Brigand — a bandit. *A brigand.*
- Italian — *brigantino*. *The source.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | brig | A brig. |
| Plural | brigs | Brigs. |
| Full form | brigantine | A brigantine. |
| Related | brigand | A brigand. |
| Italian | brigantino | A raiding ship. |
- The brig sailed at dawn.Ship.
- He spent a week in the brig.Prison.
- The word means brigand's ship.Etymology.
The brigand family
- Brigand — a bandit, from Italian *brigare*, to fight
- Brigantine — the raider's ship
- Brig — the shortened ship, then the ship's cell
- Brigade — a fighting unit, same root
- Brigadier — the officer commanding one
Short for *brigantine*, from Italian *brigantino*, from *brigante*, a brigand.
Why is a ship's prison called a brig?
American naval slang from the 1800s, when offenders were held aboard old brigs kept in harbour.
Are brig and brigade related?
Yes. Both come from Italian brigare, to fight or contend.