Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
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.

BRAN, Brand, n.¹ Also brawnd (Clc. 1874 J. Crawford Mem. Alloa 76). Sc. forms of Eng. brawn, with meaning now obs. in Eng.: “the calf of the leg” (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl., Abd. 1790 A. Shirrefs Gl.; Arg.² 1929, Slk. 1825 Jam.², s.v. brand).Sc. 1716 Ramsay Chr. Kirke ii. v. in Poems (1721):
Then for a Hap [dance] to shaw their Brands, They did there Minstrel bring.Edb. 1828 D. M. Moir Mansie Wauch (1839) ix.:
Deacon Paunch, the flesher . . . tremendously big, and grown to the very heels; as was once seen on a wager, that his ankle was greater than my brans.