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.
Breth(e, Breith, n.1 Also: brath. [ME. breth(e, breeth, ON. bræði f. bráð-r Brathe a. Cf. Berth(e.] Anger, fury; a fit of rage.(a) a1400 Leg. S. i. 525.
The hound … schot on Symeon in to brath [: vndirnethe] Ib. xlv. 275.
In mykil brath c1420 Wynt. v. 3820.
Till ras thame agayne That in thi brethe thou gert be slayne Ib. viii. 1775 (C).
Al bryme he belyt in to brethe 1456 Hay I. 54/5.
Rycht full of breth and ire Ib. 84/20.
In a breth of wodenes and ire Ib. 196/14; etc.
In hete of brethe of ire c1450-2 Howlat 69.
Quhom sall I blame in this breth … ? Ib. 916.
In breth as a batall-wricht a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 571.
Athir berne in that breth bokit in blude c1500-c1512 Dunb. vi. 26 (M).
He wald oft ban me in his breth [Ch. breith](b) 1461 Liber Plusc. 383.
Turn al latis blyth in breith and bitternes c1460 Consail Wys Man 44.
It bringis men in a byrnand breith a1500 Henr. Fab. 1949.
In his breith he weryit thame to deid
