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.

BROT, Brotach, n.¹ Also broat. A variant of Brat, n., q.v. Also dim brottie. [brɔt]

1. “A rag” (Cai. 1907 D. B. Nicolson in County of Cai. 67). Hence brotty, adj., "ragged" (Ib.).Ags. 1879 Forfar Poets (Fenton) 62: 
Wi' riven coats an' dirty brots, An' breeks that's hardly worth a shillin'.

2. An apron (Abd.⁹, Ags.² 1936).Crm. 1834 H. Miller Scenes 186: 
It's our Jenny's brottie sticking out o' the snaw.Ags. 1929 (per Abd.¹):
The souter put on his moleskin brot.Ags. 1932 Forfar Dispatch (8 May) 2/5:
Here wiz me pu'in aff my brot, snoddin ma heid, and dichtin ma face.

3. “A winter jersey” (Mry. 1914 T.S.D.C. I., brottie).

4. “A quilted cloth or covering, used for preserving the back of a horse from being ruffled by the Shimach, on which the pannels are hung, being fastened to a pack-saddle” (Mearns 1808 Jam.; Per. 1898 E.D.D., brot, brotach). Not known to our correspondents.

5. A thin stratum of coal contaminated with lime or pyrites (Fif. 1845 Stat. Acc.² IX. 265, grey broats, broats and till). Also in n.Eng. dial. in form brat.