Middle English Dictionary Entry
breu n.
Entry Info
| Forms | breu n. Also brei, breȝ, bre. Pl. breues, (early) breowen & breghis, brees. |
| Etymology | WS brǣw, brēaw & A brēg (cp. OHG brāwa & brāha). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. broue.
1.
An eyebrow; eie ~; above-bregh, over-brei [cp. L super-cilium].
Associated quotations
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)18374 : Þa hing his breowen [Otho: brouwes] adun þe king Vther Pendragun.
- a1275 Þene latemeste dai (Trin-C B.14.39)87 : Of is neose-þurlis comet starke leþen [read: leyen], Þat fur bernit & springit ut at uche breþe [read: breye].
- ?a1300 11 Pains(1) (Dgb 86)404/96 : Some..stondeþ in to heere knee, Some to heere middil þei, And some to heere ouere brei [Jes-O: vuere breyh]..As heere sunnen beþ Ibet.
- a1350 Of Rybaudȝ (Hrl 2253)46 : Sene is..on is eȝe brewe, Þat he louseþ a losynger & shoyeþ a shrewe.
- a1350 Most i ryden (Hrl 2253)18 : When heo on me loh, ybend wax eyþer breȝe [rime: heȝe].
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)42b/a : Þe brewis helpiþ þe yȝe liddes..to kepe þt no gref come to þe iȝen.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)14747 : To blake þo bigan her brewes [Göt: bruus].
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Lev.14.9 : The heeris of the heed and the beerd and brewis [L supercilia].
- c1465(?1373) *Lelamour Macer (Sln 5)69a : Washe þi face, þi berde, þy brewys, and þine hede.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)3780 : A tulke full faire, Blake horit, aboue breghis and other Serklyt of hom seluyn.
- c1475(?c1425) Avow.Arth.(Tay 9:French&Hale)239 : Þe King sturenly him stroke, That both his brees con blake.
- c1475(?c1425) Avow.Arth.(Tay 9:French&Hale)423 : Bothe his brees con blede.
- c1475 Awntyrs Arth.(Tay 9)p.15 : Brees full bold.
2.
The (steep) bank (of a stream).
Associated quotations
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)10333 : Þe water of þe lough no þyng ne growes..by bank ne bre, þat any man may..se.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Cp. brin n.pl., which overlaps in both sense and spelling with this entry. Some sorting out may be required.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. bree.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc. (sense 1.), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. eyebree.