Definition
An alloy of copper and zinc, sometimes with small amounts of other metals added to adjust hardness, machinability, or corrosion resistance. Brass is non-magnetic, resists corrosion well, and machines cleanly, which is why it is widely used in aircraft fittings, bushings, valves, and electrical components.
Plain English
A yellow-gold metal made by mixing copper and zinc. It does not rust easily, is easy to shape, and is not attracted to magnets, so it shows up in many small aircraft parts.
Context Anchor
Seen in aircraft maintenance manuals, parts descriptions, hardware identification, electrical work, and material selection discussions.
Derivation
From Old English 'bræs', meaning a copper-based alloy. The word predates the modern chemical understanding of alloys -- it simply named the yellowish metal people had been using for centuries. Knowing it is a copper-zinc mix (not a pure metal) helps explain why its properties can vary depending on the exact recipe.
Why Pilots Care
Brass parts are common in fuel systems, fittings, and instruments because they resist corrosion and will not spark easily. Recognizing brass helps when reading parts lists, maintenance manuals, or inspecting hardware during preflight or maintenance checks.
Intuition Check
Brass does not mean any gold-colored metal here. It means a specific metal mixture made mainly from copper and zinc.
Example Sentence 1
The fuel line fitting was made of brass to resist corrosion from the fuel and weather.
Example Sentence 2
We received new directives from the brass at headquarters.