Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Braid, Brade, v. Also: brayd, bread, bred; and p.t. braid; p.p. bred. [ME. braid(e, brayd(e, breide(n, breyde(n, OE. breᵹdan.]

1. tr. To catch, lift, set or throw up, to draw out, to turn about, etc., with a quick movement. a1400 Leg. S. xvi. 683.
In armis vpe he can hym brad c1450-2 Howlat 680.
The merschale … Bad bernis burdis vp braid a1500 Henr. Fab. 844.
Out of his breist ane bill he can braid Ib. 2306.
The wolf braid furth his fute c1475 Wall. i. 224.
Wndyr his hand the knyff he bradit owt Ib. v. 1105.
Wallace braid out his suerd a1500 Rauf C. 864.
Ilk ane a schort knyfe braidit out sone a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 79.
Ane duergh braydit about … Small birdis on broche Ib. 867.
He braidit vp his ventaill c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 348.
I wald na langar beir on bridill, but braid vp my heid a1500 Peblis to Play 86.
Braid vp the burde, he bydis tyt a1585 Maitl. Q. lxv. 137.
Hir wofull voice no soner had out bred [: stayed] Thais wofull wordes … Bot [etc.]

2. intr. To make a sudden movement; to start or spring; to burst out, etc. c1450-2 Howlat 498.
He … Braid throw the battallis in bront, and bur thaim backwart a1500 Henr. Fab. 542.
With that, but baid, thay braidit [B. breddit] ouer the bent Ib. 570.
With that the cok he braid out of [B. brade vnto] the bewche c1475 Wall. xi. 248.
The wod lyoun on Wallace … braid Ib. 619.
Thai grippyt him, than out off slepe he braid 1513 Doug. i. iv. 36.
Al in flambe the bles of fyre vp bradis Ib. v. viii. 12.
On syde he bradis for til eschew the dynt Ib. xiii. xi. 31; etc.
Thir … wordis from hys breist furth braid 15.. Clar. ii. 1373.
Now braiding in his dreime for joy Ib. iii. 458.
The king … braid unto his sword, rycht haistining a1568 Scott ii. 161.
Sone doun the bra Sym braid lyk thunder 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 334.
He … warslit with his handis, and braydeth vp with his body a1578 Pitsc. I. 361/31.
The king of France heirand thir wordis … braid frome his bede 1603 Philotus cxxx.
Quhat garris ȝow braid? … quhat haue ȝe sene

b. To break out in speech. 1513 Doug. iv. x. 20.
Thus fynaly scho owt bradis, allaik!

3. To have the nature or qualities of one. c1420 Wynt. vi. 2221 (W).
Thou bradis of the deuill of hell c1500-c1512 Dunb. xv. 13.
Sum schames to ask, as braidis of me 1567 Calderwood II. 350.
Ye braid of him that speired at Christ, ‘An sum ego?’ a1598 Ferg. Prov. 54.
He breads of the gate that casts all down at evin

4. To bind or tie. c1475 Wall. xi. 1060.
A courch … apon his handys thai laid, And wndyr syn with seuir cordys thai braid