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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BRAWS, Braas, n.pl. [brɑ:z Sc., but m.Sc. + brǫ:z]

1. “Fine clothes, one's best apparel” (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Cai.⁷ 1936, obsol.), e.g. Sunday braws, bridal braws. Gen.Sc.Sc. 1818 Scott H. Midlothian xvi.:
But, Madge, the lads only like ye when ye hae on your braws — they wadna touch you wi' a pair o' tangs when you are in your auld ilka day rags.Ork.(D) 1908 J. T. S. Leask in Old-Lore Misc., Ork., Sh., etc. I. vi. 222:
Packies cam doon fae the Sooth wi' dere braas an' ae ting an' anither an' bed the hale rin o'd.Mry. 1830 T. D. Lauder Moray Floods (1873) 121:
Mrs Williamson, and three bairns, wi' a feck o' her braws and best gear, were safely dry-docked in chairs in a bed.Ags. 1790 D. Morison Poems 13:
But just as they came afff the Mell, Wi' a' their braws in view.Per. 1895 R. Ford Tayside Songs 303:
But no content wi' hearsay mere, I donn'd my Sunday braws.wm.Sc. 1987 Anna Blair Scottish Tales (1990) 177:
He had on his best braws for his meeting with the Queen, his good doublet and breeches, a new pair of cream silk stockings and buckle shoes: ... Lnk. 1997 Duncan Glen From Upland Man 4:
But the shine shines for the Sunday walkers
in the country, busked in their braws
and passin the thatched
biggin.Ayr. 1826 Galt Last of the Lairds xxx.:
We can arrange a' about the . . . buying o' your bridal braws, since ye will hae a regular marriage.

2. “Beautiful things, good things, lit. and fig.” (Abd.², Abd.¹⁹, Lnk.³ 1935).Sc. 1896 R. L. Stevenson Weir of Hermiston viii.:
Ye shouldna be impatient o' the braws o' life.Ayr. 1824 A. Crawford Tales of my Grandmother 187:
It will be just lost labour to let me see your braws [speaking to a pedlar].Rxb. 1847 J. Halliday Rustic Bard 265:
The blush o' morn, the braws o' eve, The blossoms o' April.