From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishbrandishbran‧dish /ˈbrændɪʃ/ verb [transitive] written HOLDto wave something around in a dangerous or threatening way, especially a weapon A man leapt out, brandishing a kitchen knife.→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
brandish• A man brandishing a gun had threatened staff and customers at a local bank.• At one point, the suspect brandished a knife.• In her writing she recounts a story about one lovesick cowboy who brandished a pistol at her.• One witness claimed a shotgun had been brandished before police arrived at the scene.• Men's fists punched the air, brandishing flagons of beer.• He'd remembered the Walther Steve had brandished in Evelyn's Wandsworth house.• Stepping high in the light gravity and brandishing the bag before her, she ploughed her way out into the open air.• He brandished the moral force of government as his weapon.• Four horsemen dashed up at full gallop, shouting and brandishing their weapons.Origin brandish (1300-1400) Old French brandir, from brand “sword” 