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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.

Brissell, n. Also: bryssell, brissel, -all, -ile, bristell. [Variant of Bressale. See also Birsall.]

1. Brazil as a dye-stuff; cloth dyed with this. Also blew and rede brissell. 1502 Halyb. 274.
Item, send with hym at that samyn tym a stek of bryssell 1564 Edinb. B. Rec. III. 187.
That na fals cullour be brissell, vrsell, aller barkis, … be vsit in tymes cuming 1567 Edinb. Test. I. 1.
Foure scoir stane wecht of brissell 1574 Ib. III. 93.
Fourtie pund wecht of litting brissell 1578 Conv. Burghs I. 76.
Euery burgh … to tak ordour anentis thame quha hantis the litting of fals litt, sic as blew brissell, ochart litt 1583 Edinb. Test. XIII. 119 b.
Ane dosane and half of blew brissell 1613 Conv. Burghs II. 382.
Ane barrell mader, … ane pok brissel 1623 Elgin Rec. II. 181.
James Gregour confessit that on Sonday was fyvtein dayis he risped brissell

b. Attrib. with litt, ryding coat, stuff. 1593 Edinb. Test. XXV. 217.
Thrie dossone of reid brissell litt 1641 Ib. LX. 5 b.
Ane syd buird with ane carpett of bristell stuff thairvpone 1692 Pr. Inchmahome 159.
Ane rich brissell ryding coat

2. Brazil wood as a material. Usu. attrib. 1576 Edinb. Test. IV. 105 b.
Ane brissell elwand 1582 Treas. Acc. MS. 41 b.
Ane pair of brissell taiblis to his hienes chalmer a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xxxii. 35.
Beguyling bairnis that shoots with brissall bowis 1600 Black Bk. Taymouth 336.
Ane pair of tabillis of brissell, indentit with brissall with xxvii. men of bane and thre of tymmer 1605 Edinb. Test. XL. 367.
Certane small brissell treis and vtheris small merchandice 1612 Dundee Shipping L. 230.
His said schip … laidnit with pettie cairdis, brissell cames, and uther frensche wairis 1680 Blackness Customs MS. 4 b.
Ane hundretht tuenty fyve pund bryssell wood 1694 Pr. Inchmahome 161.
Ane looking glas with a black brissel frame