Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BREEKS, n.pl.² “A term in the game of draughts, used when a king is placed between two men of the enemy and lying to lift both ways” (Ayr.⁴ 1928).Bnff.² 1935:
Ay, I doot it's a case o' breeks; I didna notice that fin I made my last muv.Arg.¹ 1935:
I had a gran' gem in haan an' then, be haingt, I let him get the breeks on me, an' it wuz only a draa.Lnk.³ 1935:
He has the breeks on me.