branler

Inherited from Middle French bransler, from Old French bransler (“to shake (a sword at), move”), a contracted form of brandeler (“to wobble”), from Vulgar Latin *brandus (“firebrand, flaming sword, sword”), ultimately from Frankish *brand (“sword”), from Proto-Germanic *brandaz (“burning, flash, firebrand, flaming sword”). Compare brandish.

The supposed intermediary form, Late Latin *brandulare, also from Proto-West Germanic *brand (“sword”), is unlikely given that the suffix -ulāre had already fallen into disuse (i.e. was no longer productive) at the time of borrowing.

• IPA^(key): /bʁɑ̃.le/

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branler

1. (transitive) to shake
2. (transitive, vulgar) to touch (some work)

   Comme il n’a rien branlé, il reste encore la moitié du boulot à faire.

   Since he hasn't touched anything, there's still half the work left to do.

3. (transitive, vulgar, slang) to do

   Synonyms: foutre, glander, fabriquer

   Qu’est-ce que tu branles ?

   What the fuck are you up to?

4. (transitive, vulgar, slang) to masturbate (another person)

   Il m’a branlé, puis j’ai joui.

   He wanked me off, then I came.

5. (reflexive, vulgar, se branler) to masturbate

   Samedi je vais me branler toute la journée.

   On Saturday I’m gonna jerk it all day.

• “branler”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé , 2012.
• “branler” in Dictionnaire français en ligne Larousse.
• “branler” in Dico en ligne Le Robert.