brittle Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun caramelized sugar cooled in thin sheets
    toffy; toffee.
  2. adjective satellite having little elasticity; hence easily cracked or fractured or snapped
    brickle; brickly.
    • brittle bones
    • glass is brittle
    • `brickle' and `brickly' are dialectal
  3. adjective satellite lacking warmth and generosity of spirit
    • a brittle and calculating woman
  4. adjective satellite (of metal or glass) not annealed and consequently easily cracked or fractured
    unannealed.

WordNet

Brit"tle adjective
Etymology
OE. britel, brutel, AS. bryttian to dispense, fr. breótan to break; akin to Icel. brytja, Sw. bryta, Dan. bryde. Cf. Brickle.
Definitions
  1. Easily broken; apt to break; fragile; not tough or tenacious contrast to flexible; usually hard .
    Farewell, thou pretty, brittle piece Of fine-cut crystal. Cotton.

Webster 1913