What is parson brown?

Parson Brown is a name commonly used in American culture to refer to a generic, unspecified person, often in a humorous or whimsical context. The term is derived from the character of Parson Brown in the popular Christmas song "Winter Wonderland," written by Felix Bernard and Richard B. Smith in 1934.

In the song, Parson Brown is depicted as a kindly clergyman who marries couples in a winter landscape. However, the character has since become a symbol of an ordinary, unremarkable individual in everyday language. The use of the term "Parson Brown" is often meant to convey a sense of simplicity, innocence, or lack of distinction.

Overall, Parson Brown is a fictional character who has transcended his original context in a Christmas song to become a colloquial figure representing an ordinary or average person.