Middle English Dictionary Entry
brist n.
Entry Info
| Forms | brist n. Also birst, brust, burst. |
| Etymology | OE byrst loss, injury. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. brest n.(2).
1.
(a) Misfortune, damage; (b) evil deed, injury; beten ~, atone for a wrong; don (maken) ~, wrong (sb.), do evil; (c) need, want.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)6901 : Hit wes ladlich burst [Otho: a deolful þing] þat he ne moste libben.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)28663 : Bruttes to-dreued weoren mid feole cunne bursten.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)6344 : He drou þam vp at first Wit-vten any brek or brist [Trin-C: birst].
- a1500(?c1400) EToulouse (Cmb Ff.2.38)836 : Hys wyfe had soche a bryste [rime: wyste].
b
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)6386 : Þe duc of Moraine..monie burstes [Otho: harmes] dude.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)19857 : Colgrim..and moni þusend..makeden hufele burstes [Otho: scondes].
- a1350 Middelerd for mon (Hrl 2253)36 : Þat burst shal bete for hem bo.
- c1475 Guy(1) (Cai 107/176)3694 : Shame ye doo vs and grete bruste [rime: vntruste].
c
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)6205 : Loverd, when saw we þe haf hunger or thrist Or of any herber haf grete brist?
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)1323 : Bot onlyche on god was all hurre truste & on his godenesse he þouȝt wele more þen in alle þe toþer worldelyche burste.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)3819 : Þan was his kniȝtis stroubid Mare for þe bale of þaire bestis & brist of þaim-selfe.
- c1500 How GWife(1) (Trin-C R.3.19)208/171 : The more nede hyt make, or the grettyr byrst [rime: furst].
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. burst.