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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.

Brew, v. Also: breu, brue; p.p. browyn, -in(e, -en, brown(e; brovyn, -ine, broun(e; brwine, brewen, brewne; brewit, breud, brued. [ME. brew (breu, bru, etc.), brewe(n, early breowen, OE. bréowan.]

1. tr. To brew (ale, malt, etc.). Also absol.The p.p. browin, etc., occurs frequently in town records.(a) 14.. Acts I. 27/2.
Quha sum evir will breu thrw the twelf moneth aw to geyf the aldirman in the yhere iiij d Ib. 336/2.
Thai vse gilde merchandise bathe bakand and brewand 1450 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 12.
That na man or woman brew aile to sell derare than for vj d c1500-c1512 Dunb. v. 35.
Than to the ailhous agane scho ran, … for to brew, and baik 1546 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 124.
That the browsteris brew thair aill guid and stark 1596 Dalr. I. 16/16.
Renfrou … brewis gude ale commended throuch the hail land 1617 Acts IV. 538/1.
Single and double aill to be brued in everie schyir(c) 1523 Acta Conc. MS. XXXIV. 16.
That the samyn [malt] may be browyn for the … said army 1535 Stewart 44498.
The starkest aill of malt that mycht be browin 1541 Elgin Rec. I. 65.
The best [ale] that may be brovine 1585 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 431.
That the samyn [drink] be browin thynner 1596 Dalr. I. 6/18.
In Ingland it is bettir quhair it is brown with hope 1608 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 278.
For grinding of the haill malt browine within the towne 1629 Ann. Banff I. 61.
That guid and sufficient aeill be browin and sauld within the burghe 1659 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 421.
Acquavytie and wther hot waters broune … within this burgh 1674 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. IV. 276.
The excyse of malt browne within the shyre is deficient 1686 Conv. Burghs IV. 64.
Two marks of excyse for each boll of malt browen be them(b) 1652 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 251.
Malt broght in … to be brewne within this brugh 1687 Ayr Chart. 69.
Ilk boll of malt brewen

b. To boil or make (soap). 1554 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 205.
The … counsale grantis licence to Johnne Gaittis, Inglisman, to brew saip within … this burgh

2. fig. (Frequently in alliterative phrases.) c1420 Wynt. v. 1921.
Oute apon yhone wyff! Hyr byrth sall brew ws mekyll bale ?1438 Alex. i. 1365.
He sall ȝit … Brew ȝow sik drink, … That ȝe drank nane sa poysonand c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 189.
Quhilk brewis mekle barret to thy bryd 1535 Stewart 56434.
Syne drank [tha] efter of that that tha had browin 1560 Rolland Seven S. 176/12.
Haistie credence oft tymes brewis baill a1568 Scott xx. 64.
Ȝit man thow stand content, And drynk that thow hes brewit 1570 Sat. P. xvii. 77.
Suppose his mercy this bergane to vs brew 1573 Ib. xxxix. 15.
As thay haue brouin that bargane, sa thay drank a1605 Montg. Son. xxiv. 9.
A brybour baird that mekle baill hes breud 1630 Misc. Hist. Soc. II. 264.
If it be weall browin, ye will drink the better