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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.

Brokin, ppl. adj. Also: brokin(e, -yne, -en, -ing, broikin, -yn; brokkin, -yn, brocken. [ME. broken, -in, -yn, OE. (ᵹe)brocen, p.p. of brecan Brek v.]

1. Broken in parts or pieces; shattered, etc. a1400 Leg. S. xix. 518.
Ȝoure brokine goddis fore to hele c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 738.
Thrught the wall Of the brokyne port c1475 Wall. v. 522.
Thar wes left nocht bot brokyn wallis 1488 Treas. Acc. I. 101.
The folkis that entermettit with the brokin schip 1491 Ib. I. 168.
Fifty tua trois pundis … of brokin silver vesschell a1500 Lanc. 237.
A brokin suerd a1500 Doug. K. Hart 959.
This brokin speir c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxviii. 29.
Thocht a man haif a brokin bak 1513 Doug. vii. ix. 59.
Forgane the brokkyn brow of the mont 1554–5 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 295.
Ane greit brokin bout [= bolt] 1567 Reg. Privy C. I. 360.
Brokin stokis and quheillis a1570-86 Maitland M. Fol. cix. 48.
Quhone ȝoung men cwmis … with brokin spald 1589 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 190.
Thair haill cornis being in brokine stakkis 1596 Prot. Bk. T. Auchinlek 39 b.
The … geir of thair brokin schippis

b. In transferred or figurative use. c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 3003.
Vlixes … With brokine speche … Him prayit [etc.] c1420 Wynt. iv. 221.
Wytht brokyn lettrys … Byllyde wele wes his resowne 1511 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 107.
I wald nocht tak fra him na brokin compt 1513 Doug. xi. vii. 8.
The ryveris brute and brokkyn sound 1585 James VI Ess. 69.
This only kynde of brokin verse abone-writtin

c. Torn; not whole or intact. 1530 Lindores Chart. 31.
xiiij payre of hayll schets & ane brokyne payre 1531 Bell. Boece I. 254.
Five auld bukis, … in the quhilkis war nocht bot brokin leiffis 1578 Edinb. Test. VI. 97.
Certane brokin paper extending to ane rim & ane half rim 1605 Ib. XL. 186.
Ane brockin steake of fusteane

d. Caused by breaking. 1657 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 364.
To … tack ane vew of the brockin hoillis in the commoun wayis

2. Of persons: In an impoverished or ruined condition, and living irregularly or lawlessly in consequence. Esp. brokin men, freq. applied to those having no proper feudal superior or chief, and living by violence and robbery.(1) 1521 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 205.
The resisting of the Kingis rebellis and brokin men that was to cum to the toun 1533 Boece iii. vj. 99.
Ane myscheant man namyt Murkett … assembling power of brokin men and larouns fra Ireland 1536 Crim. Trials I. 177.
All infestacioune … of hostile assalȝearis or brokin persons c 1541–2 State P. (Reg. H.) No. 29.
James Dog … wes solistit be brokin men of the bordour to the bryning of Caroun 1575 Misc. Spald. C. II. 110.
We haue laitlie ressauit new plegeis of the brokin men inhabiting the bordoure 1578 Glenartney Doc.
We ar informit that … the brokin men of the hielandis … oppressit and hereit our trew faithull leigis 1579 Reg. Privy C. III. 231.
Williame Forbes, … a brokin and unresponsall man 1583 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 103.
Notorious clannis of robberis, brokin men and sornaris … , duelland within the boundis of Kyntyre, Coill, and Ylay 1602 Elgin Rec. II. 105.
The barrounes to be aduerteist to convene to tak ordour with the brokkin men 1613 Grant Chart. 214.
Disordourit and broken Hieland men 1636–7 Misc. Spald. C. V. 151.
Malcome Stalker, a brocken Heichlandman 1659 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 185.
Tackand to consideratioun that throw the lousnes of the tyme this burghe micht be infestit with robbers and broken men 1687 Black Bk. Taymouth 427.
The said John being bound to sheal himself upon the borders … of the forest … to keep off broken men and destroyers of deer 1694 12th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. viii. 47.
The circuit courts ... being the best meanes that . .wes found for crubbing theives and brokine men(2) 1533 Boece ii. x. 78.
Durst … repudiat the quene Agasia … and in hir place brocht ane cumpanye of brokin wemen and commoun 1560 Rolland Seven S. 52/27.
Thow art ane baird full brokin, ane hiddeous helles hyrd

b. Disturbed, unsettled. 1560 Soc. Ant. XXIII. 55.
Be raisin the saime [living] lyes in sa brokin ane cuntrie

3. With out: Broken up for cultivation. 1557 Prot. Bk. A. Gaw 44.
[Certain land let] with new broikyn out land