What's the origin of the phrase "top brass"?

osprey88 | 23:12 Sun 02nd Mar 2008 | Phrases & Sayings

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What's the origin of the phrase "top brass"?

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I've heard it's to do with brass details on a military cap, worn by Generals etc.

'Brass' in this sense is exactly as Carol says above and was originally an american idiom. 'Scrambled egg' - rather than brass - is the British way of referring to the gold scrollwork on the peak of very senior officers' caps. As ever, our notion seems much more modest somehow!

dundurn

When my father was a young police constable in Scotland he was assured that one day he would have "snaw on his bunnet"` - police forces using silver rather than gold braid on senior ranks' caps.

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Thanks for your help, I had some vague notion it had a military basis, but the only brass I could think of was buttons!

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