brittle

 
Pronunciation: /ˈbrɪt(ə)l/

adjective

  • hard but liable to break easily: her bones became fragile and brittle
  • (of a person’s voice) unpleasantly hard and sharp and showing signs of instability or nervousness: a brittle laugh
  • appearing decisive or cheerful but unstable or nervous within: her manner was artificially bright and brittle

noun

[mass noun]
  • a brittle sweet made from nuts and set melted sugar: peanut brittle

Derivatives

brittlely

(or brittly) adverb

brittleness

noun

Origin:

late Middle English, ultimately of Germanic origin and related to Old English brēotan 'break up'