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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.

Brouk(e, Browk(e, v. Also: brouc, brouik; browyke. [ME. brouk(e, bruken, OE. brúcan. Cf. Brok(e v. and Bruke v.]

1. tr. To have the use or possession of (land, etc.).A common form from c 1425 to 1575, esp. with regard to the occupancy of land; freq. coupled with jois, and occasionally with other verbs, as dispone, occupy, possede.(a) a1400 Leg. S. ii. 878.
The quhilk joy Petir and Paule Browkis now in body and sawle 1388 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 294.
The forsaid … sall haff and browk the franc tenement of the land 1425 Milne Home MSS. 19.
The sayd Alexander beand balȝe, browkand the sayde office 1471 Buccleuch Mun. II. 71.
To browke and joyse the keping of the Ermitag 1499 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 625.
[The lands] to be browkit, manurit, occupyit & josit c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxvi. 49.
Sum, vnworthy to browk ane stall, Wald clym to be ane cardinall 1521 Maxwell Mem. I. 247.
[They] sal browyke, joys, and manwr … the forsaid landis 1522 Prestwick B. Rec. 50.
Thay … sal browk na fredowm of the toune quhell our souirane lordis be fulfillit 1557 Rec. Earld. Orkney 108.
Thome profferrit to browk the merkland forsaid(b) 1433 Liber Coll. Glasg. 167.
To be haldyn … als frely as ony land is broukyt or possedyt in fe 1443 Acts II. 33/2.
All & sindri landis … as his fadir broukit thaim 1454 Liber Coll. Glasg. 177.
The said Johne … broucand the frank tenement … of the said landis … for hys tym 1466 Acta Aud. 5/1.
Elisabethe … sall pesably brouke … hir junt feftment 1474 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 32.
He sall … brouke the priuilege of the craft c1515 Asl. MS. I. 262/1.
The erldom of Northumbirland he suld brouke fre 1544 Acts II. 449/2.
Sua that he may brouke his heretage of admiralite 1556 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 246.
The said Johne sall brouke, joys, vs, and exerce the said office … all the dayis of his life a1570-86 Maitl. F. xviii. 61.
To gar trew folk brouk thair iust possessioun Ib. xxx. 170.
To brouk wirschip and honour with the laif 1587 Reg. Privy C. IV. 184.
Swa that he may not peceablie brouk nor jois his awne heritage

2. absol. To have in possession or use. 1465 Liber Dryburgh 278.
Enterand to the said takkis … the feist of Witsonday … and safurth broukand and joseand 1473 Reg. Cupar A. I. 182.
Al our landis of Balmyle with … esmentis as tha war wnt to brouk 1545 Glasgow Dioc. Reg. I. 129.
The said Patrik broukand for his lif tym, ane agit man beddrale