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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.

Brim, Brym, a. Also: brim(e, brym(e. [ME. brim, brym, obscurely related to earlier breme Breme a.] Fierce, furious.

1. Of persons or animals (esp. the boar). c1420 Wynt. viii. 1775.
Al brym he belyt in-to brethe c1450-2 Howlat 488.
The batallis so brym, brathly and bricht Ib. 775.
Bernes batalland … , brym as a bair c1475 Wall. v. 75.
The bryme Butler … wyth men about him set Ib. 1106.
In-to the breyst the bryme captayne he bar a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 822.
He wourdis brym as ane bair c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 95.
As birs of ane brym bair, his berd is als stif 1513 Doug. ix. ii. 68.
The wild wolf … brym and felloun Ib. xi. v. 85.
The brym Drances aggregis weill this thyng 1535 Stewart 34142.
Lyke ony lyoun he wes als brym and bald c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 518.
As brym as he had bene ane beir a1570-86 Maitl. F. cxxx. 141.
Withe beistis bryme and bauld

b. Of disposition, desire, etc. 1513 Doug. vi. v. 41.
This soroful boytman, with brym luyk Ib. ix. xi. 55.
The brymmar grew thar fers mudis within 1531 Bell. Boece I. p. lviii.
Boldin in maist brime fury Ib. 127.
Brim and ardent desire of battall Id. Livy I. 31/1.
Impetuus and brym haterent … to revenge this offence

2. Of fire, wind, the sea, etc. c1475 Wall. vii. 439.
The bryme fyr brynt rycht braithly apon loft a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 523.
He hard ane bugill blast brym 1513 Doug. vii. Prol. 15.
Brym blastis of the northyne art Ib. xiii. iv. 65.
The bald flammys and brym blesys stowt 1531 Bell. Boece II. 52.
Sail, mast, and taikillis wer blawin in the brim seis 1533 Boece xii. xiij. 479 b.
Be the brym rising and violent stormys of the est sey, mony castellis … war distroyit 1549 Compl. 40/1.
The suelland vallis of the brym seye 1567 G. Ball. .
Lyke the welterand wallis brym, Thay had ouerquhelmit vs