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: 1499-1512, 1618-1664
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Brat, n. [e.m.E. bratte rag, ME. brat (rare), ONhb. bratt cloak.] A poor or ragged garment; an apron.In the Dunbar quotations the sense of ‘child’ is possible. a1500 Henr. Fab. 2938.
Now gownis gay, now bratis laid in pres [B. brattis to imbras] c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 49.
Irsche brybour baird, wyle beggar with thy brattis c1500-c1512 Dunb. xiv. 39.
So many jakkis, and brattis [M. brude] on beggaris bakkis, Within this land was nevir hard nor sene 1618 Master of Works Accounts XV. 66 b.
xj eln half of harden to be flotting to sewin sadellis and tua laym brattis at vj s eln 1664 Carstaires Lett. 137.
Though you have not a bratt of your own righteousnesse to cover you
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"Brat n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 18 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/brat>
