Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
BROOK, BREUK, Bruick, n.4 Also bruke. [bruk, bryk]
1. “A kind of boil” (Sc. 1825 Jam.2, breuk; Fif.10 1936, rare); “an ulcerous abscess” (Uls. 1924 (2nd ed.) W. Lutton Montiaghisms, brook).Lnk. 1818 A. Fordyce Country Wedding 45:
It [face] would still be no worse for a buke [sic] or a boil.
2. “The mark on the knees of a broken-kneed horse” (Sc. 1911 S.D.D.).Fif. c.1700 P. Birnie in R. Ford Vagab. Songs, etc. (1904) 281:
On ilka knee she had a breuk — What ail'd the beast to dee?
3. Comb.: brook-bile, bruick-boil, “an inflamed tumour or swelling of the glands under the arm” (n.Sc. 1879 Jam.5, s.v. bruick); “a sort of lump on the cheek or neck which children were subject to” (Bnff.6 c.1920, brook-bile).
[O.Sc. bruk, bruik, an inflamed tumour (D.O.S.T.). Cf. Icel. brūk, swelling, rising (of yeast), O.N. brúk, a heap.]
