The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Brown \Brown\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Browned; p. pr. & vb. n.
   Browning.]
   1. To make brown or dusky.
      [1913 Webster]

            A trembling twilight o'er welkin moves,
            Browns the dim void and darkens deep the groves.
                                                  --Barlow.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To make brown by scorching slightly; as, to brown meat or
      flour.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. To give a bright brown color to, as to gun barrels, by
      forming a thin coat of oxide on their surface. --Ure.
      [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Browning \Brown"ing\, n.
   1. The act or operation of giving a brown color, as to gun
      barrels, etc.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (Masonry) A smooth coat of brown mortar, usually the
      second coat, and the preparation for the finishing coat of
      plaster.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

Browning
    n 1: United States inventor of firearms (especially automatic
         pistols and repeating rifles and a machine gun called the
         Peacemaker) (1855-1926) [syn: Browning, John M.
         Browning, John Moses Browning]
    2: English poet and husband of Elizabeth Barrett Browning noted
       for his dramatic monologues (1812-1889) [syn: Browning,
       Robert Browning]
    3: English poet best remembered for love sonnets written to her
       husband Robert Browning (1806-1861) [syn: Browning,
       Elizabeth Barrett Browning]
    4: cooking to a brown crispiness over a fire or on a grill;
       "proper toasting should brown both sides of a piece of bread"
       [syn: toasting, browning]