Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Brekar(e, Breker, n. Also: brekkar(e, brekker, brecker. [ME. breker, -ere (c 1175), f. Brek v.]

1. A breaker (of laws, peace, faith, etc.).(a) a1400 Leg. S. xxvi. 367.
Brekare of law, thu godis fa c1420 Wynt. viii. 2490.
Brekaris off his pes 1456 Hay I. 243/21.
Brekaris of trewis 1477 Edinb. Charters 140.
The ganestandaris and brekaris of the saide statutis 1504 Breadalbane Doc. (Reg. H.) No. 32.
The brekaris and trespassouris aganis the samyn 1531 Reg. Privy S. II. 88/2.
The thevis and brekaris of the cuntre 1551 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 152.
The persouns brekkares of the said statutes 1594 Conv. Burghs I. 436.
The penalties … to be vpliftet … vpoun the brekkares thairof 1599 Acts IV. 186/1.
Brekaris of ony arreistments 1646 Peebles Gleanings 268.
The brekaris of the said excyse to concur with the magistrattis for ingathering thairof(b) 1552 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 173.
The brekeris of the statutis of the toun 1635 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 37.
Breckeris and violatteris of all good actes

2. One who breaks, or breaks up, a thing. c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxiv. 3.
The creuall brekar of my hart in tuo 1508 Edinb. B. Rec. 114.
The sellares and brekkaris of the greit fische 1562 Treas. Acc. XI. 170.
Brekaris of the mynis

3. An apportioner or assessor. 1572 Peebles B. Rec. 341.
The counsale ordanis the brekaris of xl li. taxt … to be augmentit to the thrid peny euerilk persone ellis brokin 1633 Peebles Gleanings 132.
For railling out, miscalling, and baning of the brekeris of the taxatioun