Middle English Dictionary Entry
brīne n.(2)
Entry Info
| Forms | brīne n.(2) |
| Etymology | OE brīne (cp. MDu. brīne). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Salt water, brine; (b) setten in ~, to make (land) salty (hence barren); lond of ~, a desert.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)6348 : Þai faand in þat wastin Water bitter sum ani brin [vrr. brine, bryne].
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)57a/b : Salsugo: bryne.
- c1450 Med.Bk.(1) (Med-L 136)200/640 : Take see watir or ellis bryne and wasshe thyne hede.
- a1475 Liber Cocorum (Sln 1986)p.6 : Welle þo salt in water bryȝt, Malt hit in bryne..Put in þy flesshe.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)7.217 : Castynge theyme into bryne..he scholde have salte meytes y nowe.
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Jer.17.6 : He shal dwelle in droȝte in desert in the lond of briyn [WB(2): lond of saltnesse; L terra salsuginis].
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Ps.106.34 : He sette..The fructuous erthe into briyn [L salsuginem; cp.MPPsalter: saltmerche].
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)106.34 : He sett..Erth froyt berand in bryne..that is, in baraynhed.