Definition
A small, thin, tapered nail with a slight head, used in aircraft woodworking and sheet metal layout to temporarily hold parts in position before permanent fastening, or to make small permanent fastenings in light wooden structures.
Plain English
A tiny nail with a very small head, used to lightly tack pieces together — often as a temporary hold while glue dries or while a part is being fitted.
Context Anchor
Seen in aircraft maintenance or repair text, especially around wood aircraft parts, interior trim, or light finishing work.
Derivation
From Old Norse 'broddr', meaning a spike or pointed shaft. The original sense of a small pointed fastener carried directly into woodworking and sheet metal trades.
Why Pilots Care
A brad should not be mistaken for a strong load-carrying fastener. If a repair calls for approved hardware or a specified fastener, a brad is only appropriate when the maintenance instructions allow it.
Intuition Check
Do not read Brad here as a person’s name. In this maintenance context, a brad is a small nail.
Example Sentence 1
The technician used brads to hold the plywood rib in place while the glue cured.
Example Sentence 2
Use brads instead of screws when attaching thin trim pieces so the wood does not split.