Middle English Dictionary Entry
brāce n.
Entry Info
| Forms | brāce n. Also bras(e, bratz. Pl. brāces, brāce, brās. |
| Etymology | OF brace |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) An arm of the sea; ~ (of) seint George, the Bosporus; (b) an arm (of a cross).
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)10/4 : Þere is an arm of the see hellespont, and sum men callen it..the brace of seynt George.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)63/9 : He sall passe þe water þat es called Brace Sayne George, þe whilk es ane arme of þe see.
b
- a1500 Mirror Salv.(Beeleigh)p.97 : The dyvel apon the left brace of the crosse..satte.
2.
A piece of armor covering the arm; paire ~, a pair of such pieces of armor.
Associated quotations
- (1333) Acc.de Thweng in Archaeol.27292 : Pro iij paribus de Paunces, braces, & Musekyns avental.
- (1355) R.Arms Norwich in Nrf.Archaeol.14295 : Armatus cum dublet..cum pisan & Aventail & bratz & cerotecis.
- (1374-5) Leet R.Norwich in Seld.Soc.564 : Furatus fuit de dicto Ricardo [Armourer] brasas, brestplates, et similia.
- (1393) Acc.Exped.Der.in Camd.n.s.52164/32 : Pro emendacione j paris de bracez domini, viij scot.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)582 : Þenne set þay þe sabatounz vpon þe segge fotez..wel bornyst brace vpon his boþe armes.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.53 : Some..nolde faille To han of maille eke a pier[e] bras.
- c1450(c1353) Winner & W.(Add 31042)113 : With brases of broun stele brauden full thikke.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)18a : A Brace: defensorium, brachiale.
3.
A measure of an arm's length, an ell [cp. brache (2)].
Associated quotations
- (1393) Acc.Exped.Der.in Camd.n.s.52208/12 : Pro lv bras panni linei emptis apud Portgruer, v duc. xj s.
- (1393) Acc.Exped.Der.in Camd.n.s.52288/11 : Pro iiij braces de panno lineo.
4.
(a) A strap, thong, fastening; (b) some part of a horse's harness or gear; (c) a timber or scantling used as a support in building, a brace; (d) a metal band or support; (e) an arch, as of a bridge or a vault.
Associated quotations
a
- (1313-4) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.100512 : In 1 Barura facienda cum braces empt. pro sacc. prioris, 4 s. 3 d.
- (c1340) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.100536 : In factura unius novi Clathseck cum Barehud..cum braces ad idem.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)75b/b : And be it bounden in þat shuldre wiþ þe brasez [L brachijs] of þe bende y kutted at boþe partiez.
- c1450(c1353) Winner & W.(Add 31042)158 : Iche one has a brown brase with bokels twayne.
- (1465) Acc.Howard in RC 57293 : For a brase for my masters helme.
b
- [ c1325 Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.99167 : In reparacione braciarum et phalerarum. ]
- (1391) Acc.Exped.Der.in Camd.n.s.5246/26 : Pro iij reynes et iij brase.
- (1391) Acc.Exped.Der.in Camd.n.s.5294/9 : Pro v capistris et vj gerthes, iij braas et iiij reynes pro frenis.
- (c1408) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.99138 : Cum empc. singulorum, braces, paytrell et capist.
c
- 1348 *Acc.Exch.K.R.471/1.m.1 [OD col.] : Pro ij peciis maeremii emptis pro le Braas predicte oriol[i].
- (1423) Doc.Brewer in Bk.Lond.E.163/705 : Tweyne grete bemes bounden with iiij braces and iiij posteles.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)46 : Brace or [Win: of] a balke: Uncus, loramentum.
- (1445) Indent.Build.in WANHSM 15330 : The Sideresons yn brede of xj ynche and vj ynches of thiknesse with braces wel accordyng.
- (1457) Acc.St.John Peterb.in Antiq.51410 : Payd to Dam Allys Garton for Kebull for brasys ij s.
d
- (1444) Acc.St.Mary Thame in BBOAJ 852 : For makyng of ij brasysse to a bell.
- (1457) Acc.St.Mary Thame in BBOAJ 1020 : To perus Tynker for a bras to þe grete Bell..ij s. vi d.
- (c1464) Acc.St.Mary Thame in BBOAJ 1088 : Itm. to Peter Tynker for brasing iiij brases..ii s. vi d.
e
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)17b : A Brace of a brigge or of a vawte: sinus, Archus.
5.
A couple or pair (of dogs).
Associated quotations
- c1400 Femina (Trin-C B.14.40)p.4 : Vn bras est dez leuerers..a bras of grehoundes ys When ij en lese beþ togedere.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.2832 : Þis ilke lees of thre..Was sodeynly turned to a bras.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)46 : Brace of howndys.
- a1450 Terms Assoc.(1) (Rwl D.328)603 : A brace of houndis.
- (1473) Paston (Gairdner)5.198 : As for the brace of growndes [greyhounds]..I can nott seye but ye be a trewe man.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)181 : Gawein..ledde in honde a leeshe of grehoundes, and ledde also two brace folowinge hym.