The term “brown study” originated in 14th century Britain to describe a melancholic mood or deep reflection. It is now obsolete, but related term “burnished” is used to describe annoyance. The term was used in 19th century literature with both its original and later meanings.
The expression “brown study” is a fourteenth-century British term that initially meant a gloomy, melancholic mood, but later came to mean a state of deep reflection about something. Before the two words were commonly used together in speech, brown was used to describe something dark and understated while being in a studio meant daydreaming. The saying is obsolete in today’s speech.
However, the term “burnished” is related to the study of brown and is commonly used in Britain today. Like the “brown study,” a tan was also more associated with sadness or depression in its previous use, but the meaning has since changed. Today being browned means being annoyed or fed up with someone or something. For example, browned off could be used to describe the attitude of protesters or striking workers.
The term brown study is used quite frequently in 19th century British literature. For example, Grace S. Richmond’s book A Brown Study, published in 19, also has a chapter titled “Brown’s Brown Study,” which is written about a character named Donald Brown, who realizes, as a result of his study on the brown, that he can’t afford to waste even one of his “happy hours” worrying because he hasn’t had that many hours in his life to be happy to waste. Richmond’s use of this term is closer to its original meaning as unhappiness is mentioned in relation to it and not just deep thinking.
Conversely, Arthur Conan Doyle in The Adventure of the Cardboard Box published in 1893 uses the later meaning of brown study even though the book was published long before Richmond. For example, Watson tells the reader “leaning back in my chair, I fell into a brown study.” Holmes demonstrates to Watson that he could tell what Watson’s “train of thought” had been. Holmes surprises Watson by correctly guessing that Watson’s “reverie” was about placing a picture on a wall. Doyle’s use of the term as thinking fits the later meaning of being deeply immersed in thought, however he also uses the older idea of the word study which means to daydream.
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