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.
Quotation dates: 1420-1447, 1500-1586, 1665
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Brank, v.1 [ME. brankand pres. pple. ‘prancing’ (c 1400), of obscure origin.]
1. intr. To behave violently or without restraint. c1420 Wynt. v. 2138.
The destyné … That the wod prest … said Quhen he wes brankand in hys brayd a1447 Bower Scotichr. II. 376.
Als brankand as a bole in frontis [L. effurens fronte, ut taurus]
2. To bear oneself proudly or extravagantly; to toss the head; to prance. c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 180.
And ȝit, he is als brankand with bonet on syde, … Als courtly of his clething [etc.] 1513 Doug. xi. xii. 6.
The stampand stedis … Apon thar strait born brydills brankand fast 1540 Lynd. Sat. 468.
Hay! As ane brydlit cat, I branka1568 Peder Coffeis 37.
Grit Lucifer … Is nocht sa helie as that loun, As he cumis brankand throw the toun a1568 Bannatyne MS 137 a/3.
Scho brankit fast and maid hir bony a1570-86 Maitland Folio MS clxxviii. 130.
Thay luift thair goune abone thair schank Syne lyk ane brydlit catt thai brank 1665 Lauder Journal 102.
All thir [women ‘players at carts’] … come branking ay to hir house, collationing togither
3. tr. To make fine; to dress up. a1568 Bannatyne MS 140 a/33.
Thy wyif wount ane man scho gatt Of thé, quhen that thow wes weill brankit
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"Brank v.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 17 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/brank_v_1>
