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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Brankis, Branks, n. Also: branx. [Prob. an alteration of ME. bernak, OF. bernac a barnacle or twitch.]

1. A form of bridle with wooden side-pieces. 1548 Lanark Sheriff Ct. 13.
Johne Aitton lent ane payr of brankis … to put vpon the hors hed 1602 Reg. Privy C. VI. 504.
[He reft the] said horsis brankis, rynner and sweill thairof [etc.] 1616 Misc. Maitl. C. II. 189.
Hir brother dang hir with ane brankis quhill she bled becaus she wald nocht speik 1617 Montgomery Mem. 276.
For thrie pair of brankis to my lordis hors Montrose Mem. ii. iii. 156 (J).
Horses … with sods instead of saddles, branks and halters instead of bridles 1681 Colvil Whig's Suppl. 114.
Some ask'd … Why sodds for saddle, and branks for bridle 1685 Soc. Ant. LVIII. 367.
In the workhorse stable … 2 pair of traces, 8 pair of branks

2. An iron device of the nature of a bridle and gag, used as a means of public punishment for breaches of the peace, abusive language, etc. 1559 (c 1650) Dundee B. Laws 19.
He sall be put in the branks be the space of xxiiij houres thairafter 1560 Edinb. B. Rec. III. 86.
That na persoun … tak vpone hand to … blasfleme the name of God … vnder the pane of setting of thame in the irne brankis 1560–1 Edinb. Old Acc. I. 346.
Ane chenȝie of iron to the branx at the Croce 1565 Inverness B. Rec. I. 122.
Catheryne Browne … for the maisterfull dingyne and blude drawing of hyr hussye to be put in the brankis to this nycht at ewin 1584 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 109.
The baillies … ordanis hir vpoun Monounday nixtocum to be presentit to the govis and to the brankis to be put in her mowth 1591 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 71.
Patrick Pratt sall sit … bound to the croce of this burght, in the brankis lockit 1597 Misc. Maitl. C. I. 89.
Quhosoever sall sclandir the ministerie … salbe put in the brankis at the jugis will 1608 Stirling B. Rec. I. 120.
Gif … she be fund calumniating … the provest, … sho sall sit in the brankis 1633 Strathbogie Presb. 6.
To sitte on the stoole of repentance tuo Soondays, or then to redeem thameselfs by standing in the joggis and brankis 1648 Rec. Old Aberd. II. 30.
Isoble Robertsone … ordynit to enter the nixt day beir foot and beir lege in seckcloth with the branks in her mouth 1653 Lanark B. Rec. 151.
Iff evir the said Elizabeth salbe fund scolding or railling … scho salbe sett upone the trone in the brankis and be banishit the toun thaireftir 1689–90 Rec. Old Aberd. I. 221.
For ane branks to the cross