Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BRETT, Bret, v., tr. and intr. Always followed by up. [brɛt]

1. tr. To tuck up, roll up. Bret is contr. pa.t. for brettit.Ork. 1929 Marw.:
He bret up his sleeves and set to work.Ork. 1929 J. T. S. Leask in Old-Lore Misc., Ork., Sh., etc. IX. ii. 78:
Willo . . . waas led in till da lodge bae da helter . . . his breeks bretted ap till abeun 'is knee.

2. intr. “To strut” (Ork. 1929 Marw.); to advance towards one in hostile or saucy fashion.Ork.¹ 1930:
The peerie man was brettan up to the big fellow.