Middle English Dictionary Entry
brest n.(2)
Entry Info
| Forms | brest n.(2) Also berst, barst. |
| Etymology | Cp. OI brestr & OE byrst. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. brist.
1.
(a) Breaking; (b) an explosion, a loud noise.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)11230 : Right als..þe sun beme Gais thoru þe glas..Wit-vten brest, right sua..he com and yede, Saufand his moder hir maidenhede.
b
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)160/6,21 : A gret sowne was made yn þe fyrmament lyke a gret barst of þondyr..Men..werne comen togedyr ynto þe tempull for fere of þe berst þat þay herd.
2.
(a) Damage, misfortune; (b) evil deed, injury; (c) want, need, lack.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)6344 : Þen he drogh vp atte first wiþ-outen any brek or brest.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)229 : Hit watz a brem brest and a byge wrache.
b
- c1330(?c1300) Bevis (Auch)1930 : A dede hire ete al þer ferst, þat ȝhe ne dede him no berst.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)17630 : Wel suld all þe brest [Göt: miss] be bett.
c
- c1350 How GWife(1) (Em 106)168/146 : Borewe þou noȝt..ne tak þou noȝt to ferst, Bote þe more nede it make or þe more brest.
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)6308 : Of water had þai mekil brest.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)14478 : Off medecyne haue we mechel brest [rime: rest].
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)49 : Brest, or wantyng, of [Win: at] nede: Indigencia.
- (1449) Metham AC (Gar 141)208 : He hath of werryowris the lesse brest [rime: rest].