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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.

Brist, Bryst, v. P. t. brast, braist, brest, brist; brystyd, -ed, bristit, -ed; brissin. [ME. briste, bryste, rare variant of breste Brest v. See also Birst and Brust.]

1. intr. To burst, break open or asunder.(a) a1400 Leg. S. l. 1037.
Quhat wondire is I brist for bale c1420 Wynt. iv. 1001.
For to bryst than wald thai thynke a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 641.
Baith thair hartis can brist, braithly but beild a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 600.
For greit sorrow his hart to brist was boun c1500-c1512 Dunb. lvi. 8.
To … fyll ane fow man quhyll he brist Ib. lxiii. 69.
My hart neir bristis than for teyne 1513 Doug. x. xiii. 107.
Lyke as … clowdis brystis attanys Ib. 913/16.
Bot thai schent sum, thai suld bryst for syte 1560 Rolland Seven S. 83/2.
It was maist lik hir hart to brist in two 1611-57 Mure Misc. P. iv. 15.
My hert doth brist for woe(b) 1375 Barb. xii. 545.
Quhill men mycht her … A gret frusche of the speres that brast a1400 Leg. S. xxviii. 423.
The best but bad Brast in twa ?1438 Alex. i. 153.
The stalwart speir in sunderis brast Ib. 1016.
Of his nek the vanis brast(c) 1375 Barb. viii. 87.
The belt brist of the brand ?1438 Alex. ii. 4099.
The scheild and the haubrek brist Ib. 4108.
The speir brist on the plait of steill c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxvii. 102.
For lawchtir neir I brist 15.. Clar. v. 2335.
Whill helmis … all to brist c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 529.
Sir Talbartis speir in sunder brist(d) a1400 Leg. S. iv. 344.
A fel dragon com tham till … And he bristit but langar lat c1420 Wynt. v. 3002.
That felowne beste sone brystyd thare Ib. 3375.
For the stynk … Mony that abowte hym ware To ded brystyd 1535 Stewart 34028.
His hart than brak and bristit into tuo 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 74.
He bristit and swelt, sua that he deceissit

2. Of water, tears, etc.: To break out, issue suddenly. Usu. with out, furth, etc.(a) c1420 Wynt. i. 146.
It … brystys out syne at the strande … by the Rede Se Ib. iii. 308.
Than begouth to bryst Owt off a tuythe … Wattyr clere c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 164.
Now sall the byle all out brist, that beild has so lang 1513 Doug. iii. vii. 43.
Terys brysting furth on fors Ib. viii. 145.
From that furnys the flambe doith brist or glide Ib. vii. vii. 114.(b) 1375 Barb. iv. 129.
The fyre out syne in blasis brast a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 15.
Throw out the glas hir bemis brast sa fair(b) 1375 Barb. ii. 352.
The blud owt at thar byrnys brest a1500 Rauf C. 859.
Till the blude of his browis brest out abufe(c) a1400 Leg. S. ix. 222.
Sprakis of fyre bryste owt bedene c1475 Wall. ii. 428.
The blyth teris tho bryst fro his eyne two 1533 Boece xi. ii. 403 b.
Out of ye side of ane litil knowe … blude bryst oute c1552 Lynd. Mon. 3909.
Tyll blude aboundantlye out bryst(d) c1420 Wynt. i. 401.
Belyde boggys than out brystyd Ib. vii. 2010.
Owt off the nesthryllys twa The red blud brysted owt

b. Of persons, or other source of tears, etc. a1400 Leg. S. xxix. 811.
Out scho brast son of greit a1500 Gal. & Gaw. 754.
Thai brochit blonkis to thair sydis out of blude braist 1513 Doug. xii. Prol. 235.
The merl … With mery notis myrthfully furth brest 1533 Boece i. vi. 47.
Thare wiffis … brist out in prayer and teris 15.. Clar. iii. 112.
Full sorrowfull, and bristing out of greit

3. tr. To cause to burst or break out.(1) c1420 Wynt. v. 1956 (A).
Scho bristid and befft baitht bak and banys ?1438 Alex. i. 956.
He bristand bair him butlingis in a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 454.
Thai brist his breist, full wan thai mak his face 1535 Stewart 508.
Br[e]istis war brissin, bayth bludie maid and bla 1533 Boece viii. xiii. 279 b.
Certane marcheandis … had thare … gere … bristit and brokin 15.. Clar. v. 1161.
Ather his leg or arme he brist in two 1548 Treas. Acc. IX. 172.
For ane hors gevyn … to George Trotar, quha bristit his hors cuming be the post furthe of Ȝaister(2) 1513 Doug. iii. v. 60.
With that word scho bryst furth mony a teir