Sunbryne

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An archaic term for the burning heat of the sun, or the scorching damage that such heat leaves on the skin
2. Old word meaning the searing effect of sunlight, especially the parching or blistering it causes to the body
3. Obsolete name for the fierce, scorching warmth of the sun and the harm it does to whatever it touches

Etymology: The core of this word is "bryne," an Old English noun meaning a burning or conflagration, from the verb "brinnan," to burn. Joined to "sun," it describes heat and burning caused by the sun, built on the same pattern as later compounds such as "sunstroke." Old English speakers formed compounds like this freely, so the word needed no special coinage. Modern English no longer uses it. It survived into Middle English but faded before the early modern period, while its relatives "sunburn" and "sunstroke" took over the same territory. The "brand" in "firebrand" is a close relative of "bryne," both descended from the same root for burning, which is why the older word is easy to recognise hidden inside the familiar one.