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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BRENT, adj., adv.² [brɛnt]

1. adj.

(1) High, steep, precipitous.Sc. 1830 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) II. 337:
Strong harn shirt . . . bleached in the showery sunshine on a brent gowany brae.Sc. 1912 A.O.W.B. Fables frae the French 52:
The Tod luik't up, an' studied the brent bank. Quo' he: “Noo, my guid freen, I raither doot We'se need some skilly plannin' to win oot.”

(2) Smooth, unwrinkled. It is doubtful whether certain of the quots., where brent is applied to the brow, belong here or to section (1) above. Gen.Sc.Sc. 1721 Ramsay Poems 319–320:
Ah! wha cou'd tell the Beauties of her Face . . . Her fair brent Brow, smooth as the unrunkled Deep.Per. 1878 R. Ford Hame-spun Lays 151:
Tho' mony's the lo'esome nicht I've kent In hamely cot an' ha' fu' brent.Sc. 1934 A.R. in Edin. Evening News publ. in Border Mag. (Oct.) 156:
I wadna leave my Border cot For palaces o' marble brent.Fif. 1891 C. M. Dawson in Poets and Poetry of Lnlsh. (ed. A. M. Bisset 1896) 143:
The weary years will fail to mar Your brow sae brent, wi' fretfu' scar.Ayr. 1790 Burns John Anderson my Jo (Cent. ed.) i.:
Your locks were like the raven, Your bonie brow was brent.Gall. 1928 D. M. McB. in Gallov. Annual 45:
Gane were the lusty Morrisons! Gane players, dancers a'! The ice stretched bare an' black an' brent withoot a crack or flaw.

Hence brenty.Ags. 1906–1911 Scot. Folk Rhymes in Rymour Club Misc. I. 54:
Playing with a child — Broo brenty, Ee winkie, Cheek cherry, Mou merry. (Touching the parts indicated.) †(3) “Flat, as descriptive of a brow which has a small angle” (Rxb. 1825 Jam.²; 1923 Watson W.-B., obs.).

(4) Bold, shameless.Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.:
A brent huzzie! [Contr. of comb. (2) below.]

Combs.: (1) brent-browed, “forward, impudent” (Per. 1825 Jam.²); (2) brent-fac'd, “brazen” (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.).

2. adv. Steeply, straight.Rxb. 1825 Jam.²:
He look'd me brent i' the face.Rxb.(D) 1925 E. C. Smith Mang Howes an Knowes 16:
The road gaed brent doun.