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Where does the word "bruin" come from? It comes from Middle Dutch bruun, and was adopted directly into English (1480s).
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Where does the word "bruin" come from? It comes from Middle Dutch bruun, and was adopted directly into English (1480s).
Bruin’s story begins in Middle Dutch: bruun meant “brown.” 'brown', the name of the bear in the tale of Reynard the Fox. It reached English by 1480s as Bruin. William Caxton's 1481 translation of 'Reynard the Fox' from Dutch brought the bear's name into English. Today, bruin means a name for a bear.
- Stage 1 · Middle Dutch · medieval bruun "brown", 'brown', the name of the bear in the tale of Reynard the Fox.
- Stage 2 · English · 1480s Bruin "Bruin (a bear)", William Caxton's 1481 translation of 'Reynard the Fox' from Dutch brought the bear's name into English.