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: 1475-1605
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Bre, n. Also: bree, brie. [ME. bre (pl. brees, bren), bregh, breyh, etc., OE. (Anglian) bréᵹ (bréaᵹ), related to WS. brǽw, whence ME. brew.] An eyebrow. c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace ix. 1925.
Bowand bron haryt, on browis and breis lycht 1513 Doug. vi. vii. 96.
Hir eyn fixit apon the grond held sche, Moving na mair hir curage, face nor bre 1535 Stewart 12957.
Crabit as Saturne … With busteous browis glowmand on his brie 1535 Ib. 29158.
With plowkie visage, bowdin brow and bre c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 1293.
He hat the knicht abone the breis a1585 Maitland Quarto MS xlviii. 65.
As Proebus tres hir hair & breeis a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xxxv. 26.
Lyk golden threeds [are] Hir siluer shyning brees 1596 Dalr. I. 39/17.
Is lykwyse in thir cuntreyes anothir foul … with ruch feit, with rid bries
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"Bre n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/bre_n>
