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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.

BRIEF, BRIEVE, BREEF, Briefe, n.¹, adj. Also breive (Sc. 1751 W. Macfarlane Geneal. Coll. (S.H.S.) II. 358). [brif, bri:v]

1. n.

(1) A term in Sc. law. A legal writ, an official document. Obs. now in this sense in Eng., last quot. 1641 (N.E.D.). “Formerly in extensive use, but now mostly supplanted by other forms of process” (Abd.¹⁶ 1935).Sc. 1752 A. McDouall Inst. Laws Scot. II. 333:
There is no mention in the brieve or service of the Valued rent.Sc. 1890 Bell Dict. Law Scot. 134:
A brieve is a writ issuing from Chancery, in the name of the king, addressed to a judge, ordering trial to be made by a jury of certain points stated in the brieve.Gsw. 1713 Records Burgh Glasgow (ed. Marwick 1908) 503:
Relative to a briefe or wryte for the election of members.Lnk. 1710 Descr. Sheriffdom Lnk. and Rnf. (Maitland Club 1831) 92:
To the Director of the chancellary for granting of ther brieves.

(2) A spell or charm of any kind.Ayr. 1786 Burns To J. Smith i.:
Ye surely hae some warlock-breef Owre human hearts.

(3) Writing or gift of writing. Only Eng. quot. in N.E.D. dated c.1450.Ayr. publ. 1801 Burns Reply to Trimming Ep. (Cent. ed.) iii.:
King David, o' poetic brief, Wrocht 'mang the lasses sic mischief.

2. adj.

(1) “Energetic, forcible” (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.).Ork. 1929 Marw.:
A b[rief] body.

(2) Clever, apt or keen. Not known to our correspondents.Abd. 1898 E.D.D.:
A brief joke or saying.Ags. 1825 Jam.²:
He gae us a very brief sermon.