Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Bris, Brese, v. Also: briss-, brys(s-), briz, bryz; breis. [ME. bris(e, brys(e, brese, early brisen, OE. brýsan to crush, bruise, and OF. brisier to break. Cf. Birse v.]

1. tr. To break, violate. (See also Brese v.) 1456 Hay I. 242.
Nocht brissand thair hecht and promess Ib. 243.
Men suld be punyst that bris the kingis trewis Ib. II. 81/26.
He … bryssis the reugle of larges

2. To bruise. c1420 Wynt. v. 1970.
Scho … wyth hard and hewy stanys Bryzyd [C. bryssit, E. bresit] bathe brest and bak at anys 1456 Hay II. 160/34.
He saw … all his membris brisit sa that he mycht nocht rys na ga 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. iii. 637.
He smote me down, and brissit all my banis 1535 Stewart 33249.
Sum gat ane bat that breissit all thair bonis Ib. 34561.
Crag and coist, and all the banis wnder, War brissit and brokin in pecis small 1654 Peebles B. Rec. 423.
Tua new lockis that was brokin, … sprentis and plaitis brised and brokin 1665 Lauder Journal 71.
He having irritate and angred it [a viper] … by his brizing it in his mouth