An Etymological Dictionary of the Scottish Language Part 114

_Bannatyne Poems._

Fr. _bribeur_, "a beggar, a sc.r.a.p-craver; also, a greedy devourer;"

_briber_, to beg; and this from _bribe_, a lump of bread given to a beggar; Cotgr. C. B. _briw_, _brib_, a morsel, a fragment.

BRICHT, BRYCHT, A young woman, strictly as conveying the idea of beauty.

_Wallace._

Merely a poetical use of the adj. _bright_; in the same manner as ancient writers used _fre_, _clere_, &c.

BRID, BRIDDE, _s._ A bird, a pullet.

_Sir Gawan and Sir Gal._

A. S. _brid_ is used for chicken, as also S. _burd_.

BRIDLAND, _part. pre._

_Polwart._

Apparently, q. bridalling, drinking as freely as men do at a bridal.

BRIG, BREG, BRYG, _s._ A bridge, S. A. Bor. Lancash.

_Wallace._

A. S. _bricg_, _brigge_, Su. G. _brygga_, Belg. _brug_, id. Ihre views _brygga_ as a diminutive from _bro_, anc. _bru_, which has the same meaning.

BRIGANER, _s. pl._ A robber, S. B.

Evidently from _brigand_.

_Journ. Lond._

BRIL, _s._ The merry thought of a fowl.

V. ~Breels~.

_Sibbald._

Teut. _bril_, ossiculum circa pectus a specilli similitudine dictum.

BRYLIES, _s. pl._ Bearberries.

V. ~Brawlins~.

BRIM, BRYM, BREME, _adj._

1. Raging, swelling; applied to the sea.

_b.e.l.l.e.n.den._

Isl. _brim_, the raging of the sea. The word is thus defined; Aestus maris, vehementibus procellis littus verberans; Olai Lex. Run.

A. S. _brim_, _brym_, salum, aequor, mare, the sea.

2. Fierce, violent.

_b.e.l.l.e.n.den._

3. Stern, rugged, applied to the countenance.

_Douglas._

4. Denoting a great degree either of heat or of cold.

_Douglas._

Thus, "a _brim_ frost," is still a common phrase for a severe frost, S.

B.

~Brymly~, _adv._ Fiercely, keenly. Wall. vii. 995.

V. ~Artailye~.

BRIM, _s._ A cant term for a trull, Loth.

Callander of Craigforth, in some MS. notes, mentions _brim_, as signifying a scold, S. This has most probably been the primary sense.

_To_ BRYN, BRIN, BIRN, _v. a._ To burn.

_Barbour._

Su. G. _brinn-a_, Germ. _brenn-an_, id. A. S. _bryne_, burning.

~Brynstane~, _Brynt-stane_, _s._ Brimstone, sulphur.

_Douglas._