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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.

Brek, Breck, n. Also: breik. [Northern ME. brek (c 1300), ME. breke, brekke, e.m.E. break(e, breck(e; f. Brek(e v. Cf. Brak n. and Braik n.]

1. A breach of friendly relations or peaceful conditions; an outbreak of contention or disorder.(a) 1478 Acts II. 122/2.
For remede of the gret brek that is now … in diuers partis of the realme, and specially in Anguse betuix the erle of Buchane and the erle of Eroule 1482 Thanes of Cawdor 65.
All debaites, actiones, brekkis, said, done, mouit or proponit 1499 Douglas Chart. 173.
Sa that ane finale end may be had of all ruptionis and brekis aganis the treux 1513 Doug. xi. vii. 105.
Ane seditioun or a brek to make Ib. xiii. vi. 85.
All the brek and sterage that hes beyn 1515 Treas. Acc. V. 44.
To pas with … writingis to my lord Maxwell to cause gud reull to be kepit, and to wait on the bordour for brek apperand 1533 Boece iii. vi. 99.
Ane haisty brek in the Ilis was movit 1543 Misc. Spald. C. IV. 210.
For the stenching and repressing of brek in the Hielandis be euill myndit men 1578 Misc. Abbotsf. C. 44.
Diverse querrelles and contrauerseis … tending to the truble and brek of the cuntre 1619 Garden Elphinston 573.
Lyk to bread bothe breks, Great discords and debaits(b) 1533 Boece xvi. v. 617.
Sone efter this breik was repressit, ane vthir begouth of new 1543 Corr. M. Lorraine 13.
To saw discord and mak breik amangis gret men

2. A breach or breaking of a promise, undertaking, obligation, duty, etc.(a) 1492 Acta Conc. 228/1.
He aucht nocht to pay the said soumez becaus of the brek of the said promitt 1516 Reg. Privy S. I. 425/2.
Without ony accusatioun of the brek of the said privilege 1546 Montgomery Mem. 140.
To … pay … vithin fourty dais eftir the samyn failȝeand and brek be notourlie knavin 1563 Rec. Univ. Aberd. 126–7.
Onything quhilk may tynd to the violatioun or brek of this our speciall protectioun 1570 Leslie 94.
Oure brodir brak first to us, and sen his brek we haif required … him to amend 1611 Grant Chart 210.
The faillie and brek of deutie being tryit … be Mr. Iames Grant 1615 Highland P. III. 252.
All those who assisted Sir James in his brek of waird 1623 Kinghorn Kirk-S. 24.
William Allane … confessit his brek of the Sabbathe 1626 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 357.
To speik the principall and regentis … anent the brek of the ordinance 1637 Elgin Rec. I. 258.
James Scott fynit in xl s. for brek of statutis 1670 Corshill Baron Ct. 94.
Of the brek of arrestment 1671 Ib. 99.
Anent the brek of the act made anent selling of drink(b) 1603 Crim. Trials II. 407.
Be his breck of waird 1619 Garden Elphinston 872.
The long unbleamisht band … [that has] But bleamishe bene and breck 1650 Strathbogie Presb. p. xiii.
Delaitit for breck of Sabboth

3. The break of day. 1531 Bell. Boece I. 259.
To assailye thame in the brek of the day Ib. II. 140.
At the brek of the day 1570 Leslie 227.
In the brek of the nixt day … they come befoir Leith 1584 Sat. P. xlv. 654.
Ay on be the brek of day

4. A material breaking or breach; a broken part. Also fig. 1537 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II. 367.
Descendand down to the brek of the mos c1575 Balfour Pract. 643.
The space of ane ȝeir from … the brek of the ship 1558-66 Knox II. 66.
Be reasone all was eird, the brek [v.r. breiche] was not maid sa greit [etc.] 1580 (1587) Reg. Great S. 390/1.
Power to cast his coill peitis upoun the Waithe-hill of Stromnes, and his brokin peittis upon the brek outwith his merches 1596 Dalr. II. 146/1.
Our syd vpon the Inglismen … maid sic a brek, put al thair armie out of ordour 1600-1610 Melvill 593.
The breck and ruine of the Kirk is great 1627 Misc. Hist. Soc. I. 99.
I trust in God to haif this brek fillet vp with ane better 1631 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 2.
That the said John may … repair the brek of the wall