Middle English Dictionary Entry
bred-ful adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | bred-ful adj. Also bret-, brat-. |
| Etymology | ON *bredd- (corresp. to OE brerd) & *bradd-; cp. Norw. bredfuld, Swed. brädd-full. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. brerd-ful.
1.
(a) Of a container: filled to the brim, brimful; (b) of an area: completely covered; (c) completely filled, chock-full.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.Cross (LdMisc 108)559 : Heo bledde þat fat bretful of blod.
- a1400 Recipe MS Hal.in Rel.Ant.1 (Hal 335)55 : Fill a mykell potte bretfull.
- c1400(a1376) *PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)[prol.41] f.la : Til here bely & here bagge were bratful [vrr. bretful, bredful, faste] ycrammid.
- a1450 7 Sages(3) (Cmb Dd.1.17)945 : Hym thought that the fruyt was goode, And gadderd bret ful hys hoode.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)2123 : Shipmen and pilgrimes, With scrippes bret-ful of lesinges.
- c1450(c1405) Mum & S.(2) (Add 41666)1048 : And fillen þaire bagges brede-ful of þat þe bees wyrchen.
- ?c1450 Stockh.PRecipes (Stockh 10.90)31/14 : A longe vessell bredfull of rosys.
b
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)167 : Te lichame [of Job] warð bretful of wunden.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2164 : A mantelet vpon his shulder hangynge, Bret ful [vrr. brat ful, breteful] of rubies rede.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)386 : He streyȝt up a standard..Bild as a belfray, bretful of wepne.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)12561 : A prouynse, pight full of hilles..bret full of rokkes.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1548 : Þai were bret-full [Dub: brightfull] of bees all þe body ouire.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4868 : Þe proud playn..was brett-full of bowis & blossoms so swete.
c
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)126 : I bowed in blys, bredful my braynez.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)10254 : Tho mighty on mold metton to fight With thaire batels..bret full of pepull.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4089 : Þe bourne..was so borely & brade & bred full of ydres..& doukand neddirs.