Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
†BRIEF, n.2 In phr. the brief and the lang o't = Eng. phr. “the long and the short of it.”Sc. 1818 Scott Rob Roy xxiv.:
I ken when I hae a gude master, and deil be in my feet gin I leave ye — and there's the brief and the lang o't.
