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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.

BREENGE, BRAINGE, Breinge, Brange, Bringe, v. and n. Also braindge (Ayr. 1858 M. Porteous Souter Johnny 30). [brindʒ, brendʒ Sc., but Ayr. and Gsw. + brɪndʒ]

I. v., intr. and tr.

1. intr. To rush forward recklessly or carelessly; to plunge; to make a violent effort. Also fig. Gen.Sc. Sc. 1991 Scotsman 31 Oct 22:
All Blacks caught offside after Armstrong had breenged from short penalty. Sc. 1998 Herald 20 Jan :
Then when we noticed that other cities were using their waterfront for urban regeneration, Glasgow breenged back towards the Clyde like an excited toddler heading for the beach. Abd.¹ 1929:
The maister cam' hame wi' a guid dram in, breenget aboot, knockit owre a cheer or twa an scared the bairns.  Abd. 1996 Sheena Blackhall Wittgenstein's Web 8:
Bit Davie breenged hame, suppit a glaiss o milk, ett a quick piece, syne hashed on oot an awa ower the back roadies tae Neil's hoose. Ags. 1930 “A. Kennedy” Orra Boughs xxx:
Or shall I breenge on, and at the end o' livin' be able to say “I've lived”?em.Sc.(a) 1991 Kate Armstrong in Tom Hubbard The New Makars 114:
Sea-maws twirl mirligo.
A peat-stack's cowped aroun the door.
Scarts breenge ablow. em.Sc. 2000 James Robertson The Fanatic 10:
He paused, and Jackie wondered if he was going to offer her a free pass, but he only drew breath before breenging on with the sales-pitch. em.Sc. 2000 James Robertson The Fanatic 300:
She picked up speed on the slope past the St James shopping centre. ... She breenged on.wm.Sc. 1985 Liz Lochhead Tartuffe 4:
Ah cry it a dampt disgrace
That a naebody should tak the maister's place!
To breenge in here, a raggity bare-fit tink,
Wi' the bareface to tell us whit to think. wm.Sc. 1995 Alan Warner Morvern Callar 60:
The Panatine breenged in and over to the bar. Lnk.¹ 1931:
O aye, it's true eneuch: he never breinget to deny it.Ayr. 1786 Burns Auld Farmer's Salutation xii.:
Thou never braing't, an' fetch't, an' flisket.Kcb. 1883 G. Murray Sarah Rae, etc. 65:
He first felt fain, then unco queer, Began to loup, and brange, and rear.w.Dmf. 1917 J. L. Waugh Cute McCheyne 106:
Whoa, Sally! what are ye braingin' at? Ye'll ha'e that guid graith a' shaken to bits.

ppl.adj. breingin' (see 1898 quot.).Abd. 1995 Sheena Blackhall Lament for the Raj 21:
Noo, breengin bawds rin gyte
Lythe lammies lowp; plash! puddocks plowp.Per. 1898 E.D.D.; Lnl.¹ 1935:
A bustling woman with a sharpish tongue is called a “breingin' bodie.”m.Lth. 1906 J. Medwin Crummleyknowe 264:
Andrew was breengin and dour, too, in his way.Ayr. 1843 J. Stirrat Poems 100:
Tho' nature ties me to the sex, Nae breendging queen shall e'er me vex.

2. tr. To drive with a rush (Abd.²², Ags.¹ 1935; to bang (of a door). Also used fig. (see first quot.).Sc.(E) 1879 P. H. Waddell Isaiah xl. 23:
Wha breinges the big folk till nought.Per. 1895 R. Ford Tayside Songs 142:
They breeng'd him wi' bauchels, they chased him wi' cheers.Slg. 1932 W. D. Cocker Poems 49:
Auld Paddy, the packman, comes daunerin' roon, . . . An' the lees that he tells are a waefu' disgrace, But naebody yet breenged a door in his face.Lnk. 1893 J. Crawford Sc. Verses and Sangs 29:
D'ye min' oor glorious snawba' fechts At nicht when skule met skule? Tho' whiles the “Mice” wad chase the “Rats,” An' breenge them doon the hill.

3. Phrases: (1) come breenge, rush noisily; (2) let breenge, aim a blow. Gen.Sc.(1) Ags. 1892 Arbroath Guide (12 Nov.) 3/7; Lnl.¹ 1935:
Something cam' breenge doon the stair.(2) Abd.⁷ 1925; Edb.¹ 1935:
He leet breenge at 'im wi' a stock.Per. 1904 R. Ford Hum. Sc. Stories (Ser. 2) 23:
Lattin' breenge at the box, first wi' his hands and then wi' his feet.

4. To beat, batter, belabour, pelt, knock (Abd. 1915 H. Beaton Benachie 188). Vbl.n. breengin, a beating. Per. 1878 R. Ford Hamespun Lays 92, 112:
Mony a-reengin' wi' the tawse . . . They breeng'd him wi' bauchels.

II. n.

1. A violent or clumsy rush, a dash, a plunge. Gen.Sc.Sc. 1928 L. Spence in Scots Mag. (May) 142:
And Jeemsie wis growin' fair seek o't and ettlin' to mak' a breenge for his caur.Sc. 1995 James S. Adam New Verses for an Auld Sang 6:
My Gaelic comes through much pursuit of an elusive acquaintance with the language of Eden; after many years of striving with the grammar and spelling, today I just take a deep breath and mak a breinge at it.Abd. 1932 R. L. Cassie Scots Sangs 44:
A hedderie hirst, wi' breenge an' birst, Is thrangin tae the tuilzie.Fif.¹⁰ 1935:
The beast lat a brainge forrit.Edb. 1915 T. W. Paterson Auld Saws 58:
It's better to gang canny, an' gang shair, . . . Than tak the causey, bashin wi' a breinge, An' fa', an' brak yer taes.Ayr. 1879 R. Adamson Lays of Leisure Hours 119:
Sae wi' a bringe he laup oot o'er the stiddy, An' by the neck wi' yae hand held the body.Kcb. 1789 D. Davidson Seasons 35:
Baith wi' a brainge Sprang, hap an' sten, out o'er a nettle An', cry'd revenge.

Phr.: a' at a brainge, suddenly, on a sudden impulse.Ayr. 1822 H. Ainslie Pilgrimage, etc. 111:
Just a' at a brainge, the folk took some tirryvee an' awa they gaed like the break o' a storm.

2. A blow, punch (Lnl.¹ 1935).Ags. 1921 A. S. Neill Carroty Broon ix.:
Gie him a breenge in the neb, Peter!

3. fig. A fit of temper (Lnl.¹ 1935).Fif. 1894 A. S. Robertson Provost o' Glendookie 105:
[This bairn] taks sic breenges whiles, that I'm at my wits end to ken what to dae wi' him.