Brassey

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. A British hereditary title and surname associated with a notable family history
2. A title of nobility and family name in the United Kingdom linked to historical figures
3. A family name used in Britain often connected with peerage and distinguished ancestors

Etymology: Golf's brassie was named for the metal on its face. Its sole was fitted with a brass plate, and the club took its name from that metal with a diminutive ending, "-ie", which English had been attaching to nouns for centuries. The result is a plain, almost affectionate label for a piece of equipment rather than a grand coinage. The suffix has a long pedigree. It descends from Old English "-iġ", which passed through Middle English "-y" before settling into the "-ie" spelling that later golfers adopted. The spelling "brassey" is an alternative form of the same club name, so the two words are one and the same, differing only in how the ending is written.