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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.

Brawn, Bran(e, n. Also: brawyne, brawin, brawne, braun(e, brayne. [ME. brawne, braune (14th c.), OF. braon, braoun.]

1. A fleshy part of the body; a rounded muscle of the arm or leg.(a) ?1438 Alex. ii. 4519.
Of handis and heidis, baith braune and blude, He maid ane lardnare quhare he stude c1475 Wall. v. 254.
Wallas … throw thé and brawn in sondyr straik the bayne Ib. vii. 348.
In thair brawnys sone slaid the sleuthfull sleip a1500 Henr. III. 114/20.
Waldyne I am … With brawne [B. bran; M. brane] as bair, with brest burle & braid 1513 Doug. v. vii. 73.
Erix was wont … In that hard bellan hys brawnys to enbrace Ib. 108.
Hys lymmys squair, Baith byg bonys and brawnys 1535 Stewart 217.
Big in the brawnis Ib. 48362.
Bayth breist and brawin Ib. 60354.
Throw bane and brane 1538 Lynd. Justing 33.
Thocht thy braunis be lyk twa barrow trammis a1568 Bann. MS. 138 b/45.
Quhill branys [M. brawnis] ar big Ib. 139 a/70.
The brawin [M. brayne] away doun muntis a1570-86 Maitl. F. lxxvii. 1.
Brissit brawnis and brokin banis

2. Brawn as an article of food.Also, in early use, a boar for the table.(1) 1384 Exch. R. III. 108.
Computat de iiij brawyne et ix porcis(2) a1500 Rauf C. 185.
Thay brocht breid to the buird, and braun of ane bair c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 887.
With nobill confeittis, bran and geill Ib. 1563.
Of bran and geill thair wes na skant 1512 Rentale Dunkeld. MS. 116.
In empcione pedum bouum & onium ad conficiend. lie brane & geil 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I. 128.
The said Agnes Woobster brocht ane dische off develische potage, alleging it to be bram [sic] and geill 1626 Black Bk. Taymouth 316.
Off wyld geis, xii; off brane, xii meis