I had always thought the word “brand” in these expressions referred to manufacturer’s names that everyone would recognize, such as Ford, General Electric, etc. “The Straight Dope” says that the term “Brand-new” goes back to the middle ages and “referred to pottery or metalwork that had just been pulled from the fire in which it had hardened.” That was the origin of the term “brand name.” Wine corks are “branded,” as are cattle. An argument ensued about the meaning of the word “spanking.” One responder said it refers to the old term “span-nyr,” meaning “chip-new,” or the chips made by an axe. Another responder said the expression originated from the practice of midwives spanking a newborn to provoke crying and breathing. The author provided a discussion of several other possible sources of “spanking,” including the Danish word “spanke” (to strut), the Scandinavian word “spanking,” a sailor’s name for a fresh lively breeze, but no reference to spanking a baby. However, the author complimented the responder for a creative interpretation.