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.
†BRACHAN, BRACHEN, BRECHAN, n. Sc. forms corr. Eng. bracken, Pteris aquilina. See also Breckan. [′brɑxən, ′brɛxən]Sc. 1904 Bonny Lizie Baillie in Ballads (ed. Child) No. 227 xxi.:
And she's away with Duncan Grahame To go among the brachans.Ayr. 1823 Galt R. Gilhaize I. viii.:
Or den himself among the brechans by the road-side.
Combs.: (1) brechan shaw, copse full of bracken; (2) Royal Brachens (see quot.).(1) Rxb. 1847 J. Halliday Rustic Bard 258:
Sae I will steal me bye the hill, an' thro' the brechan shaw, An' by the burnie meet wi' her, the fairest, best o' a'.(2) Sc. 1777 J. Lightfoot Flora Scotica II. 653:
Osmunda Regalis. Flowering Fern, or Osmund Royal. Anglis. Royal Brachens. Scotis.
