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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.

BROG, brogue, brug, n., v. Also browg (Cai. 1972 D. Omand Cai. Book 244). [brɔg, brog, brʌg Sc.; brʌug (Cai.⁷)]

1. n.

(1) A bradawl; a boring instrument; a goad. Gen.Sc.Bwk. 1811–1892 P. Coldwell in Minstrelsy of the Merse (ed. Crockett 1893) 337:
For David [a donkey] she seldom had reason to flog, Though gently she touched him at times wi' the brogue.Ayr. 1887 J. Service Dr Duguid 82:
He had . . . a lang brog or wummle to take a potatoe out of a cow's throat.

(2) “A job [jab] with such an instrument” (Sc. 1808 Jam.).

(3) Also brug. Anything pointed, e.g. the prickle of a thistle. Used fig. in quot.Sc. 1890 J. Kerr Hist. of Curling 347:
When, in 1879, the bannet [the stake in the game] was regained at last, every “brug” of the Thistle [a New York curling club] was assembled together at William Meikle's, and . . . there was great rejoicing.Fif. 1882 J. Hutton Poet. Musings 24: 
There were nae rurals then to lay on the tawse; A bit brug in oor feet a' the dreein' o't.

2. v. To prick, pierce; “to pierce (a hole) with or as with an awl” (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.); to sting (Ork. 1975). Hence brogger, a bee, wasp, gad-fly, etc. Also fig. Known to Abd.², Lnl.¹ 1936 Ork.(D) 1904 Dennison Orcad. Sk. 6:
De witless jads kent no' whar tae stick the fish. Sae they geed brogan wi' heuks on de hard heeds o' the whalls.Per. 1857 J. Stewart Sketches 38:
If he's dead, I'll be broggit wi' grief and repentance.Slg. 1841 R.M.S. The Harp of Strila 122:
His dog . . . wi' his teeth did sair them brug, And gart them bleat.Bwk. 1823 A. Hewit Poems 95: 
I was ready maist to pou', Whan up the wicked broggers flew Wi' eerie biz.Lnk. c.1779 D. Graham Writings (1883) II. 16:
Jockey's mither was driven o're a kist, and brogget a her hips on a round heckle.

Hence †broggit-staff, a staff with a sharp iron point; a pikestaff.Sc. 1846 Anon. The Muckomachy (based on W. Drummond Polemo-Middinia) 35:
To wraik revenge; — Swinging he gaff [gave] Clark's broggit-staff Siccan a baff, As made it flee some ten yards aff.