An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Brand

by Friedrich Kluge

Brand, m., ‘fire, conflagration, mortification, blight,’ from the equiv. MidHG. brant(d), OHG. brant, m.; comp. AS. brand, E. brand, OIc. brandr, ‘brand, resinous wood’; from brennen. The root is bren (from the Germ., the Rom. cognates Ital. brando, ‘sword,’ Fr. brandon, ‘torch,’ are derived). Brandmarken, ‘to burn in a mark,’ first occurs in ModHG.