Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BRAIL, Brile, n. An intense or strong outburst. [brɛ:l Ork.; breil Cai.]Ork.(D) 1912 J. Spence in Old-Lore Misc., Ork., Sh., etc. V. ii. 68:
An dan da tow cam an' a bonnie brail o sun, an he haed a faigh crap efter a'.Ork. 1929 Marw.; Cai.⁷ 1935, brile:
Used chiefly in two phrases — “a b[rail] o' heat” and “a b[rail] o' sweat”; e.g. “He was just in a b[rail] o' sweat when he finished”; “What a b[rail] o' heat it's been the day.”