A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1499-1596
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Brevely, adv. Also: breu(e)ly, -lie, brewelie, brieuelie, breavelie. [ME. brevely, var. of brefely Breifly. Cf. Brefe a. and Breve a.]
1. Briefly, shortly, concisely. a1500 Tale of the Colkelbie Sow 363.
As is heir breuly ourharld c1515 Asloan MS I. 184/27.
Breuely for to trete 1531 Bell. Boece I. p. xcviii.
Schawand brevely in quhat buke [etc.] 1559 Reg. Privy S. MS. XXX. 5 b.
Brevelie introducing the vnioun of the partis of orisoun 1562-3 Winȝet II. 9/4.
And, breuelie, that all superiour poweris [etc.] 1596 Dalr. I. 2/13.
I will breiuelie twoche quhilkes are commone to the hail ile
2. In a short time; quickly. 1562-3 Winȝet II. 55/4.
Quha … with sa gret fyreflachtis breuelie suld nocht be dung to the ground? c1590 J. Stewart 182/12.
Quhois dart … dois dalie schoir … me brewelie till distroy
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"Brevely adv.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 18 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/brevely>
