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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BRUNT, v., pa.t. and pa.p. Used also as a ppl.adj. Cf. Brint, and see also Burn, v., and Burnt.

1. As in St.Eng. burnt. Gen.Sc.Sh. 1993 New Shetlander Sep 29:
Quick, ower quick for da men ta turn me
Fae aa da sight o da blade an da blöd
An da last sprickle ... an fled laek a thing
brunt. Abd. 1996 Sheena Blackhall Wittgenstein's Web 1:
His fingers war brunt broon bi fag-rikk.m.Sc. 1986 William Montgomerie in Joy Hendry Chapman 46 10:
"D'ye cairry the auld tawse
in yer coat-tail
Heidmaister?
I see ye've brunt the forked tongue
in the coal-fire
or the gas-ring". em.Sc. 1988 James Robertson in Joy Hendry Chapman 52 69:
An day wud daw
An brunt on the scaur
Wis the merks
O' their cloot-heeled shune. m.Lth. 1788 J. Macaulay Poems 184:
An' how the auld wife try'd to spin, But brunt her rock.

Combs.: (1) brunt ale (Ork., ne.Sc. 1975), -drink, the refuse of a whisky still. See Burnt; (2) brunt wine, brandy. Ad. Du. brandewijn. (1) Ags. c.1830 W. M. Inglis Angus Parish (1904) 164:
After the browst was over the refuse of the still, known as the "brunt drink", was sent into the nearest burn, and was most deadly to the trout. (2) Mry. 1700 E. D. Dunbar Social Life (1865) 38:
Three pynts brunt wine . . £5. 2s.

Phr.: a brunt crust, a person of no worth or means.Sc. 1816 Scott Antiquary (1818) xv.:
“He hasna settled his account wi' my gudeman, the deacon, for this twalmonth.” . . . “Nor wi' huz for sax months,” echoed Mrs Shortcake — “He's but a brunt crust.”

2. “Cheated; swindled in a bargain” (Cai.³, Bnff.², Abd.⁹, Ags.¹, Fif.¹⁰ 1936).Sc. 1808 Jam.:
One says that he has been brunt, when overreached.

3. A term used in certain games. (See quot.)Cld. 1825 Jam.²:
In curling, when a stone is improperly touched, or impeded in its course, it is said to be brunt. . . . In Blindman's-buff, he who is twice crowned or touched on the head, by the taker, or him who is hoodwinked, instead of once only, according to the law of the game, the person taken is said to be brunt, and regains his liberty.