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.
Quotation dates: 1539-1615
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Braig (knife), n. [Of obscure origin.] A large knife.(1) 1539–40 Acts Lords of Council MS. XII. 100.
Ane hewin ax … , ane braig 1575 Edinburgh Testaments III. 387 b.
Ane dosane of greit knyfis callit braigis 1581 Ib. IX. 185.
Thrie dosane of flescheour braigis 1585 Ib. XV. 40.
Certane knyffis and braigis 1585 Ib. 40 b.
Tuentie doubill braigis 1615 Criminal Trials III. 358.
He drew ane knyfe or braig, with the quhilk he straik the said vmqle Johnne Chirritie(2) 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 66/19.
The bair sleiping … he saw, … With his braig knife his throt cuttit in tway 1581 Edinburgh Testaments IX. 106.
Thrie dosane of braig knyfis 1585–6 Reg. Privy C. IV. 57.
Thai … cuttit the throttis of the deid personis with braig knyveis 1597 Edinburgh Testaments XXX. 218 b.
Saxteine pair of braig knyffes 1612 Misc. Maitl. C. II. 165.
The said Katheren slew hir said vmquhill husband with hir awin hand with a lang braig knyff 1612 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 329.
George Speir, flescheour, being accusit for … drawing of ane braig knyfe to the beddel of the kirk
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"Braig n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/braig>
