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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.

Brecham(e, n. Also: brechim, brechome, -oume, -on, breicham, braichhame, -heme. [Northern ME. bargham, barwam, ME. berhom (c 1475), mod. north dial. baurgham, barkham, barfam, braugham, etc., app. f. OE. berᵹ-, beorᵹ- to protect, and Hame n.] A collar for a draught-horse. 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. i. 300.
Raw silk brechamis ouir thair halsis hingis 1529 M. Works Acc. I. 6.
To the sadillair … for vj ledderon breichamys 1542 Treas. Acc. VIII. 132.
Twa barkit hors hidis … to mak brechonis of 1545 Ib. 392.
x pair of breichamys with thair sadillis 1548 Ib. IX. 201.
Tua thraif of stray to mak brechamys to thir hors 1552 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 172.
Quhair as now thai … payis for ane brecham of stra ij d. 1566 Inv. Wardrobe 171.
Certane auld brechomes and hernes of the French facioun a1568 Bann. MS. 138 a/57.
I haif … Ane brechame and twa brochis fyne 1617 M. Works Acc. XV. 37 b.
For a stouk of quheit stra to be brechimes 1618 Ib. XV. .
For 2 threve of aitt stra to be brechomes 1626 Ib. XIX. 22.
21 b. For fourtie braichhemis of sprottis and seggis Ib. 26.
For ane stouke of ait strae to be braichhames to the sklaitteris 1661 Crim. Trials III. 195.
In the morning his shirt was fownd fast abowt his neck, as a brechame