bracket

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bracket projection serving as a support XVI; (typogr.) one of the marks () [] { } XVIII (earlier brace). Earliest forms brag(g)et — F. braguette codpiece, or Sp. bragueta codpiece, bracket, dim. of F. bragues (pl.) breeches — Pr. braga, It. (arch.) braga (mod. braca, pl. brache breeches). The source is L. brāca, pl. brācæ breeches, long hose, of Gaulish origin (see BREECH). It has been suggested that the bracket of architecture and ship-building was so called from its resemblance to a codpiece or a pair of breeches. See -ET.

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