## Etymology
A compound of brass (Old English bræs, 'an alloy of copper and zinc') + bound (past participle of bind). Originally literal (trimmed with brass), it gained the figurative sense 'rigidly inflexible.'

## AI Etymology
Brassbound is an adjective meaning "bound or trimmed with brass; rigidly inflexible or hidebound". Historically, it is a compound of brass (Old English bræs, 'an alloy of copper and zinc') + bound (past participle of bind). Originally literal (trimmed with brass), it gained the figurative sense 'rigidly inflexible.'. The visible construction is part of the etymology: brassbound is not just an unanalyzed simple word. The semantic history matters here: the earlier use is the starting point, and the modern sense, "bound or trimmed with brass; rigidly inflexible or hidebound", is the later or specialized English value. The historical chain is anchored in Old English bræs. Close English family members include brass, and brassy.

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