noun
brace
A pair of similar things, especially hunted birds.
The hunter returns carrying a brace of pheasants from the morning outing.
Etymology
The older root names an arm. Through the idea of embracing or holding things together, brace acquired the counting sense of two things joined as a pair.
More examples
- A brace of ducks hung in the gamekeeper's shed.
- The painting shows a brace of pistols on the table.
- They brought home two brace of grouse.
Forms
brace · braces
Similar words
- pair
- Pair is the ordinary general term; brace is a more specialized or traditional word for two.