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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.

Brefe, Breif, n. Also: bref(f, breyff(e, breyf, briefe, bryeff, bryiff. [ME. brefe, breef, bref (1330), OF. bref, brief, L. breve. The plural is frequently brevis: see Breve n.]

1. A letter or document of an official nature; a command, writ, or summons.Frequently with specifying term, as brefe of idiotry, inquest, perambulacioun, purale, richt, sesing, for which see these words.(a) a 1380 Rep. Hist. MSS., Var. Coll. V. 77.
He aucht nocht to ga owte of his possession forowte the Kyngis brefe 1428 Mun. Melros 519.
The abbot … present to me a brefe of departisoun of the kyngis chapele 1437 Stirlings of Keir 214.
Williame broucht us the kyngis bref of commandement to gif the saide sesyng 1450 Reg. Aberbr. 77.
The saide bref to procede wythowtyn … langar delay 1472 Lennox Mun. 91.
Gyff Iohn of Haldane wyff had enterit ordourlyt be breffs as ane ayr 1483 Acta Conc. II. Introd. 103.
The said schiref has procedit unordourly in the serving of the said brefe 1490 Douglas Corr. 234.
Gif … Jhone be ordorly serwyt be his breff and retowryt 1501 Dunferm. B. Rec. 116.
To persew and follow the sade bref 1507 Ib. 162.
All the laef of the puntis contenit in the sade bref(b) c1420 Wynt. viii. 1594.
Hys breyffe he gert spede … To swmmound this Ballyoll bodyly 1423 Reg. Great S. 30/1.
Grantand to the said Michel our power … breiffis to gif 1474 Acts II. 107/1.
Fulfilling the laif of the poyntis of the breif 1482 Bk. Carlaverock II. 440.
The bryeff at is present to the schereff of Renfrow 1488 Acts II. 208/1.
For the quhilkis the said breiffe wil nocht be full servit c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 79.
For quhilk, brybour, ȝit sall thow thoill a breif 1597 Misc. Spald. C. II. 142.
Quhair na persone … compeirit to oppone contrar the breife 1606 Melrose R. Rec. I. 5.
Quha produceit ane breif … to serve him as air to his said guidschir

b. A letter or document; a missive. a1568 Bann. MS. 220 a/48.
Of all my panis scho may me weill relesche With breif in bill 1600 Haddington Corr. 209.
I ceas to mak mention of the caracteres and breifs fund upon him

2. A musical note. c 1555 Crail Ch. Reg. 65.
Ane lettronale … contenand the breiffis of antamys, ymnis [etc.]