Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

FOREBREIST, n. Also -briest, -breast; -breisht (Abd.).

1. The front of anything, the forefront (Abd.²⁷ 1953).Sc. 1935 Sc. N. & Q. (Jan.) 5:
Aye at the pleuch tail but never at the forebreisht o' the market.

2. Specif.: (1) the front seat (of the gallery) in a church (n.Sc. 1825 .Jam.; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Rs., ne.Sc., Ags., Per. 1953). Often in phr. forebreist o' the laft (Jam.²; Peb. 1953); (2) the front (seat) of a cart (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 52; Ork., ne.Sc., Ags. 1953).(1) Abd. 1700 in W. Cramond Church of Aberdour (1896) 42:
Severall young people do possess the forebreast of the common loft in tyme of sermon to the prejudice of others that are old.Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xviii.:
The heritors' seat i' the forebriest.Edb. 1894 P. H. Hunter J. Inwick 34:
Sittin in his muckle airm-chair in the fore-breist o' the sooth laft.Kcb. 1900 “W. Gairdner” Glengoyne I. 79:
The family pew was a “forebreast,” one which would have been his laird's had the laird been resident.Abd. 1950 Huntly Express (29 Sept.):
There wis a raxin' o' necks nae mowse fan we took oor seats i' the forebreist o' the kirk.(2) Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb i.:
Mounting the “forebreist” himself, started again, fairly under weigh for the Wells.Abd. 1929 J. Alexander Mains and Hilly 190:
Ye see them sittin' on the forebreist o' their cairts smokin' a pipe's tho' they wur men.