Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

To-brist, To-brest, v. P.t. to-bras(t, to-brest, to-bryst, to-byrst(yt. P.p. tobrissin. [ME and e.m.E. to bresstenn (Orm), to-burst(en (p.p. to-barst) (both Layamon), tobrest (Cursor M.), OE toberstan; To- prefix² and Brist v., Birst v. Cf. Brusch(e v.] a. intr. To burst asunder. See also Brusch(e v. or To-frusch v. 2 (1st quot.) for a possible further example. b. tr. To cause to burst forth, to break in pieces.a. pres. a1400 Leg. S. xli 60.
His hart thane cane to-brist for bale ?1438 Alex. ii 7524.
Or ellis myne armes sall all to-brestp.t. 1460 Hay Alex. 1399.
Quhill that the spere in schounder all to-brast 1460 Hay Alex. 3264.
[He] strake ane Greik … Apone his helme quhil all to bras his brand 1460 Hay Alex. 3848.
To-brest 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 1368 (L).
Quhill on a sand the schip tobryst and claue(b) c1475 Wall. ii 130.
Hys byrnyst brand to byrstyt c1475 Wall. iv 244.
Brais and band to byrst all at anysb. a1450 Fifteen Ois 228.
The scharp brodis of breris The quhilk … In thy tender heid wes thristin, Quhill blud and bane wes tobrissin