A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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About this entry:
First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1400, 1461-1621
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Brere, Breir, n. Also: brer, breer. [e.m.E. and ME. breer(e, brere, OE. brér, brǽr.]
1. A briar; esp. a briar-bush. Also fig.(a) c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 2488.
So the hole oure-coverit was With thornes, breres, and with gras 1461 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 362.
The forsaide landys … with wodis, … hader, breris [etc.] a1500 Henr. Fab. 320/23.
Throw mure & mos, throw banke, busk, & brer a1500 Id. Orph. 455.
Oure desyre … Quhen it is tederit on this warldis breris a1500 Buke of the Sevyne Sagis 1797.
Than war thai blyth as bird on brere c1500 Fyve Bestes 52.
Take the way of buskis, thorne, & brere 1513 Doug. iii. ix. 13.
Hys tawbart and array sewyt with breris 1513 Ib. viii. xi. 10; etc.
Scroggis and breris all with blude bysprent 1531 Bell. Boece I. 143.
The Romanis wer … irkit with scharpe and difficill passage, full of breris and thornis 1533 Id. Livy I. 26/11.
This refuge was … hedgit with thik breris on euery side(b) 1535 Stewart 2765.
In craig and cleuche, in mony bus and breir 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 64/26.
The breir byndis me soir c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1086.
Thirsyll, nettyll, breir, and thorne a1568 Scott ii. 18.
Spurris als scherp as breiris a1570-86 Maitland Folio MS lxxxv. 29.
Thay will be blyth as bird on breir 1621 Black Bk. Taymouth 353.
That na maner of … personnes … cutt no kynd of breir nor thorne but in the waxing of the moone(c) 15.. Clariodus iii. 716.
All to rent on breeris hir sarke beine [= is] 15.. Ib. 986.
Breer and thorne
2. Attrib. with busk. (Cf. e.m.E. brere bushe.)a1500 Henr. Fab. 2537.
The wedder followit him … Quhill that ane breir busk raif rudelie of the skyn
