Middle English Dictionary Entry
brīn n. (plural)
Entry Info
| Forms | brīn n. (plural) Also bren, briȝes. |
| Etymology | ON; cp. OI brȳnn, pl. of brūn. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. brǒue.
1.
(a) Eyebrows, or the ridges of the eyebrows; (b) eyelid(s).
Associated quotations
a
- c1390 11 Pains(3) (Vrn)111 : Þo þat weren vp to þe briȝes In þat flod, aboue þe eiȝes.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.189 : He gan first remue þe croice mad on his bryn.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.237 : Edward..maugre boþe his bryn, was fayn to com to grith.
- a1425 Arth.& M.(LinI 150)344/1576 : Wiþ bryȝes of eyȝne as basyn cler.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)51 : Bryne [Win: Bryn] or brow of þe eye: Supercilium.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)12344 : His bryn, his berd.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)12387 : He hym smot..& entamed boþe his bryn, þat al þe skyn heng ouer hys eyn.
- c1475(?c1425) Avow.Arth.(Tay 9:French&Hale)230 : All wroth wex þat sqwyne, Blu and brayd vppe his bryne.
- c1475 Wisd.(Folg V.a.354)196 : For sorow my bren I knett.
- c1450(a1375) Octav.(2) (Clg A.2)931 : Twey tuxlys out of hys mouþ set..A greet fot was betwex hys bryn.
b
- c1350 Cmb.Ee.4.20.Nominale (Cmb Ee.4.20)16 : Oiel paupere, purnel, et cils: The eelede, appul, and bryn.
- a1500 Hrl.1002 Gloss.(Hrl 1002)631 : Cilium: brye.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1330(?c1300) Bevis (Auch)33/685 : Wiþ stepe eiȝen & rowe bren So loþeliche he gan on hem sen.
Note: Antedates word.
Note: Quot. belongs to sense (a).
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: Also brine, bren & briȝes & (?error) brye.--notes per MLL
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1484 Diseases Women (2) (Trin-C R.14.52)488/73 : Signes and tokenes general of thiese sikenessis bien theise..ache..of their forhede and of their necke and of their eyen, and infectioun of þe bries, that is to say, chaungyng of their colour into another couloure than thei shuld have.
- a1484 Diseases Women (2) (Trin-C R.14.52)488/102 : Their bryes bien of swart rede colour.
- a1484 Diseases Women (2) (Trin-C R.14.52)488/106 : Their bries [L palpebre] bien of fieble colour and swellith sumwhat.
Note: Ed.: "bries n. pl. 'eyelids'."
Note: Cf. Norri bree. Cf. OED bree 'The lid of the eye, the eyelid.'
Note: Additional quots., sense (b).
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?1482 Rev.Monk Eynsham243 : The briys of hys ye-lyddys beganne firste a lytil to moue.
Note: Glossary: "briys n. pl. 'eye-lashes'."
Note: Cf. OED bree, n.1 3. 'An eyelash.'
Note: ?New sense.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Cp. breu n., which overlaps in both sense and spelling with this entry. Some sorting out may be required.