Definition

A person or thing that makes a loud, harsh sound, especially a donkey, or a small tool used in printing to spread ink evenly.

Example

The brayer rolled smoothly over the ink, preparing it for the printing press.

Conversation

I just bought a new brayer for my printing project.

Oh nice! Is it for block printing or something else?

It's for spreading the ink evenly on the plate.

That sounds really useful! I can't wait to see how your prints turn out.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

The word 'brayer' originates from the Old French 'braier', meaning to bray or to make a loud noise, particularly associated with the sound made by a donkey. It refers specifically to the sound that a donkey makes, which is often described as braying.

Memory Tip

Think of the Old French word 'braier' that describes the loud noise made by a donkey — that's why 'brayer' refers to that specific sound.

Visually Confused Words