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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.

Brute, Bruit, v. [e.m.E. brute (1525), bruit, f. Brute, n.]

1. tr. To accuse or tax (a person) by popular rumour as guilty of some fault or offence.(a) 1562 Stirling B. Rec. I. 80.
Jonet Lyndesay … and Isabell Keir … being brutit with wichecraft 1565 St. A. Kirk S. 250.
Patrick wes brutit to have takyn … mor than justle appertenit to hym 1567 Misc. Maitl. C. II. 306.
Quhatsumevir persoun that is knawin or brutit with the breking of the tolbuith 1590 Crim. Trials I. 199.
Thow … declarit, that thow was bruttit and sclanderit with wichcraft(b) 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 2.
The laird of Grange was euill bruited, in that conspiracie 1585 Perth Kirk S. 250.
Eupheme Tully bruits her husband … of adultery 1593 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 82.
Persouns … that ar bruittet and suspect of papistrie 16.. Hist. Kennedy 41.
Ȝe bruittit me, that I had maid this of my heid 1603 Elgin Rec. II. 113.
Alexander Cuming is bruitit … that he lead burne on Sonday last

b. To credit (a person) by rumour. 1570 Leslie 142.
Becaus he wes bruttit to haif fastit … the space of fortie dayis continewallie togidder

2. To spread or noise (a statement) abroad. 1558-66 Knox II. 16.
Howsomer rumouris bruit the contrarie 1577 Reg. Morton I. 103.
It is brutit that thay mynd to … charge the Castell to be deliuerit vnder the pane of tressoun 1578 Reg. Privy C. III. 3.
Sum … hes brutit and gevin the commoun people to understand that at the Parliament [etc.] 1628 Misc. Hist. Soc. I. 103.
It is bruttit that Capitane Cokburne is ded