Cross and brazen after losing series of battles? (4)
I believe the answer is:
ford
'cross' is the definition.
(to ford a stream is to cross it)
I don't understand the remainder of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for ford that I've seen before include "way for pedestrians" , "Shallow crossing point in river" , "Henry ...., first mass producer of cars" , "38th US president, Gerald" , "Ex-president" .)