Brawn \Brawn\, n. [OF. braon fleshy part, muscle, fr. HG. br?to flesh, G. braten roast meat; akin to Icel. br?? flesh, food of beasts, AS. br?de roast meat, br?dan to roast, G. braten, and possibly to E. breed.]

1. A muscle; flesh. [Obs.]

Formed well of brawns and of bones. --Chaucer.

2. Full, strong muscles, esp. of the arm or leg, muscular strength; a protuberant muscular part of the body; sometimes, the arm.

Brawn without brains is thine. --Dryden.

It was ordained that murderers should be brent on the brawn of the left hand. --E. Hall.

And in my vantbrace put this withered brawn. --Shak.

3. The flesh of a boar; also, the salted and prepared flesh of a boar.

The best age for the boar is from two to five years, at which time it is best to geld him, or sell him for brawn. --Mortimer.

4. A boar. [Obs.]

--Beau. & Fl.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)