brand new

adj

Etymology: From brand (“firebrand”) + new, implying something that is newly forged (first citation 1570; compare fire-new (“fresh from the fire, brand-new”)). Alternatively, and less likely from brand as in a branding iron (i.e. newly-branded). The first element of the variant bran new, with the post nasal stop deletion common to English (compare the common pronunciation (outside Britain) of hunting as hunning [hʌnɪŋ]), is often back-etymologized as being from bran as if from cases where new items were supposedly “packaged up with unwanted grain (bran) in the 18th century to protect the objects during transit” (source unknown). Both variants are well attested.

1. Utterly new, as new as possible.

   “New bodies, new minds ... and all thinges new, brande-newe”

   “two pair of bran-new plumpers”

2. Acting in a way unusual for oneself.

   “Man, quit actin' brand new, bruh. You only being this way 'cause there's a girl.”