A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1420, 1515-1626
[0,0,0,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,0]
Briton, Britoun, n. and a. Also: Bryton(e, Britton. [e.m.E. Briton, Bryton (1547), ME. Bryton (c 1300), L. Brito, Britto. Cf. Breton.]
1. A Briton. c1420 Wynt. iv. 1830 (W).
In the south … Wes Brytonis than of Brutis seid c1515 Asloan MS i. 190/1.
We … helpit him and the Brittonnis to put out the Romanis c1515 Ib. 247/11.
Thar began a gret batell betuix the Englismen callit the Britonnis, the Scottis and Pictis 1531 Bell. Boece I. p. xx.
Brutus the first beginner of Britonis 1531 Ib. 18.
This subtel slicht wes discoverit … be ane banist Briton a1570-86 J. Maitland Maitland Folio MS clxxvii. 53.
Reid howe thay forcit the Britonis folkis to flitt 1622-6 Bisset I. 32/18.
Ane Brytone named Amphibolus
2. attrib. or adj. British. 1533 Boece i. vii. 49 b.
In the quyet nycht, King Fergus with his power suld invaid the Britoun wachis
You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Briton n., adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 17 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/briton>
