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.
BRO, n.1 [bro:]
1. “A frothy white substance on mossy ground which sickens animals that eat it” (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.); “a bubble of foam, resembling spittle, enclosing an insect; freq. seen in the grass in the fields, esp. in autumn, and said to cause sickness among cattle; doubtless the name of the insect” (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)).
2. “Butterwort, pinguicula (plant); full of sticky, insect-catching glands and avoided by grazing cattle” (Ib.).
[Norw. braae, an insect, said to be dangerous to cattle; Sw. dial. bråde, bråe, Acarus terrestris ruber, insect said to cause the so-called tympanitis in cattle (Jak.). For vowel change, see Jak. Intro. p. xlv. E.D.D. derives the word from Fr. dial. (Norman) broe, foam, foamy saliva, froth; Mod.Fr. brouée, steam, mist.]
