Middle English Dictionary Entry
brā̆n n.
Entry Info
| Forms | brā̆n n. Also branne, braan & bren(n, breen, brin(ne. |
| Etymology | OF bren, bran (ult. Celtic). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The ground husk of wheat (or other grain) as separated from the flour by bolting; bran; ~ of whete, whete(n ~; (b) ~ bred, bred of ~, bread containing bran.
Associated quotations
a
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)93 : Ase þe ilke þet bonteþ þet mele, þet to-delþ þet flour uram þe bren.
- 1381 Pegge Cook.Recipes (Dc 257)116 : Yt schal be stoppit over nyzt in lews water and in braan.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)7.270 : A lof of Benes and Bren [B: bran].
- (1391) Acc.Exped.Der.in Camd.n.s.5210 : Pro j bussello de breen.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)251a/a : Whete..is ful of mele and of flour wiþ wel lytel branne.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)15524 : Sathanas..wil þe sift nu..as man dos corn or bran.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)244/16 : He mote ete colature of bran wiþ almaunde milk.
- c1400 Femina (Trin-C B.14.40)31 : By þe buntere ys deceueret þe flour and bran.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)55 : Putt brynne wiþinne.
- a1425 HBk.GDei (Arun 507)151 : Brede made of branne & water with cale..is gode fode to þe wele-taght wambe.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)112b/b : Furfuris macri i. lene bran [*Ch.(2): branne].
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)44a/b : Suppynges made of bene mele..and of þe colature of branne wiþ hony.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)187a/a : Furfur, bran, is knowen hote & drye aboute þe firste degree, wiþ an homely resoluynge.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)189b/b : Enoynte þe face..with water of branne [L aqua furfuris].
- c1436 Ipswich Domesday(2) (Add 25011)173 : It is ordeyned that no baxter..medle bren with brede of all maner corn.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)49 : Bren or bryn or paley: Cantabrum, furfur.
- c1450 Burg.Practica (Rwl D.251)205/21 : Medyll yt with bryne of wete.
- c1450 Burg.Practica (Rwl D.251)233/1 : Do þer-to a lytyl wete-brynne.
- c1450 Med.Bk.(2) (Add 33996)65 : Do þer to wheton branne to holde in þe licour.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)1.103 : Be as pure as floure taken fro the brann..But goo not to ouer nyce gay.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)17b : Brane: cantabrum, furffur.
- a1486 Assize Bread in Archaeol.57 (Mrg M 775)60 : It is to wite that the Bakstere may wynne in eche quarter of whete..iij d, and the branne and two louis of furnage.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Add 9066)369 : The Asse is seke..lette vs gyfe hym good mete, brede, and branne.
- a1500 Bring us (BodPoet e.1)p.285 : Bryng vs in no browne bred, fore that is mad of brane..But bryng vs in good ale.
b
- a1425 Roy.17.C.17 Nominale (Roy 17.C.17)657 : Panis furfurius: branbred.
2.
Sayings and fig. expressions: bulten to the ~, sift (a problem) thoroughly; etc.
Associated quotations
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.NP.(Manly-Rickert)B.4430 : But I ne kan nat bulte it to the bren, As kan the holy doctour Augustyn..Wheither that goddes worthy forewityng Streyneth me nedely for to doon a thyng..Or ellis if fre choys be graunted me.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Rv.(Manly-Rickert)A.4053 : In stede of flour yet wol I yeue hem bren [rime: men].
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.478 : Age..Hath me biraft my beautee..The flour is goon..The bren, as I best kan, now moste I selle.
- a1450(1419) Loke how Flaundres (Dgb 102)49 : He ete bred of bran, Þat wiþ floure his foo wil fede.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)144.467 (v.2:p.435) : Yf ye desire to byn fed with delicat fode, redith the werkys of Sent Austyn, youre cuntre-man, and in comparisoun of his depilrid flour ye shul no thinge desiryn of oure bryn [L furfurem].
3.
Bran; -- in comparisons with scurf or dandruff.
Associated quotations
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)80a/b : Somtyme in þe heed be þe rootes of the heer brediþ scales liche to bran.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)120b/a : Subtile bodiez like to furfur i. branne, which floweþ fro þe heued without vlceracioun.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)118a/a : Wiþ shaly [F furfureux] vlcers i. byles and lyke bran.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1500 Hnt.HM.64 Artist.Recipes (Hnt HM 64) 279/19 : Take clene water a pynte and an demi, and bren that is somdele harde, the grittenys of a bene.
- ?a1525 Dc.54 Artist.Recipes (Dc 54) 263/15 : Wasche þy schynne þeryn ofte; ons and yt ys wel wesche, take bran and mel yt with warme watyr, and make yt lyke past, and þerwith rob well þi skyn.
- ?a1525 Dc.54 Artist.Recipes (Dc 54) 263/22 : Do into the watir of the most wyt flour þat þu may haue, and a quantite of brane, and a lytyll swet mylke, and for yche skyn two ȝolkys of yyrne.
Note: Postdates sense 1.(a) [2nd & 3rd quots.]
Note: New spelling (brane).
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.100vb (3.13) : 'Fvrfura vrine,' scuddes in þe vryn, ar white resolucions apperand in þe vryn, most lik whete brenne or scuddes of a mannes hede.
Note: Additional quot., sense 1.(a). New spelling: brenne.
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.12rb (1.4) : 'Pitiriasis' is as mykel for to saie as 'brenne,' for þai þat haue þis malady, here vryn scheweþ him wiþ bodies moste like brenne or scuddis or rouus of a soore, and þat is be cause of scabbyhede & scuruyhede of þe vesye.
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.100vb (3.13) : Brenne..ar white..be resoun þat þe membre þat þai comen of, s. þe vesie, is white.
Note: ?New sense. Editor's gloss: 'bran-like contents in urine'.