firebrand

n. 火把, 在燃烧的木柴, 煽动叛乱者

发音

UK /ˈfaɪə.bɹænd/
US /ˈfaɪɚ.bɹænd/
AU

词形变化

firebrands 复数 firebrands

释义与例句

n.
  1. 1.

    An argumentative troublemaker or revolutionary; one who agitates against the status quo.

    比喻

    The member of the college's Communist League was a firebrand who would launch a sit-in or protest march at a moment's notice.

  2. 2.

    A torch or other burning stick with a flame at one end.

    The crowd cheered as a firebrand was tossed onto the huge pile of wood to start the traditional homecoming bonfire.

    […] he filled all their throats with it, so that those poor wretches were by it made to cough like foxes, crying, Ha, Pantagruel, how how thou addest greater heat to the firebrand that is in us.

词汇关系

名词

同义词 5

brand instigator inciter instigant provoker

上位词 5

firewood troublemaker bad hat mischief-maker troubler

下位词 1

ringleader

词源

From Middle English fyr-brand, furbrond, equivalent to fire + brand. Cognate with German Feuerbrand (“firebrand”).

来源：wiktionary