Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

†BREEGHLE, Brechle, v. [briçl, brɛxl]

1. “A term expressive of the waddling and bustling motion of a person of small stature; as, He's breeghlin awa'” (Fif. 1825 Jam.²).

2. “Applied also to the mode in which a person of this description does any kind of work; to fiddle, to make little progress notwithstanding much bustling” (Ib.).

Hence breeghlin, brechlin, vbl.n., “motion conveying the idea of considerable exertion, but little progress” (Ib.).