Middle English Dictionary Entry
brember n.
Entry Info
| Forms | brember n. Also bramber. |
| Etymology | OE brēmber, vr. of brēm(b)el. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. brembel.
1.
(a) Bramble; the blackberry; ?holly; (b) ~ flour, the dog rose; (c) in place names.
Associated quotations
a
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)98 : Ther grewen ther inne bushes and bramberes [F fresgons].
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)108 : Brambres [F ronces] and netles.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)133 : More sharp than brambere [F ronce] or thorn.
b
- c1410 Chaucer CT.Th.(Hrl 7334)B.1936 : Sweet as is þe brembre [vrr. brembul, brymbil] flour That bereþ þe reede heepe.
c
- (1287) EPNSoc.3 (Bedf.& Hnt.)157 : Bremerhangre.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (1384) Appeal Usk in Bk.Lond.E.28/176 : Ther kom jn an orrible companye of criers…with oute any vsage but be strength, chosen Sir Nichol Brembre mair, a-yein our maner of eleccion to-forn thys vsed.
Note: New sense: as surname.
Note: Quot. belongs to sense (c).
Note: Modify the gloss in sense (c): "in place names and surname."
- (1254) in Ekwall Dict.EPN56 : Bramerton.
- (1412) EPNSoc.16 (Wil.)147 : Brembrig.
Note: Supplementary material for sense (c).
Note: New forms: Also.. (in names) brembr- (early) bramer-.
Note: The list of variant spellings in the form section is incomplete and needs revision to accord with standards of later volumes of the MED. Provisional revised form section (including Supplement forms): Also brembre, brambere & (in names) brembr-, bremer-, bramer-; pl. bramb(e)res.--notes per MLL