Brownie

 
Pronunciation: /ˈbraʊni/

noun (plural Brownies)

  • 1 (the Brownies) the junior branch of the Guide Association, for girls aged between about 7 and 10, wearing a brown uniform: for my birthday I want to join the Brownies
  • (British also Brownie Guide) a member of the Brownies: she wanted to be a Brownie but her daddy wouldn’t let her
  • 2 (brownie) a small square of rich chocolate cake, with nuts.
  • Australian/NZ a piece of sweet currant bread.
  • 3 (brownie) a benevolent elf that supposedly haunts houses and does housework secretly.
    [diminutive of brown; a ‘wee brown man’ often appears in Scottish ballads and fairy tales]

Phrases

brownie point

informal, humorous an imaginary award given to someone for an attempt to please: his policy will win brownie points with voters