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: 1399-1700
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Bras, Brace, Bres, n. Also: brasse, brase, brais, bresse. [ME. bras (brasse, brase), OE. bræs.] 1. Brass.(a) a1400 Legends of the Saints i. 237.
Serpens als of bras he made c1420 Wynt. iii. 925.
He made in hy a bull off bras c1420 Ib. v. 3004.
Wytht yhettys off bras he closyt … the entré 1428 Exchequer Rolls IV. 450.
Quatuor [pondera] de bras et septem de plumbo 1454–5 Edinb. Chart. 79.
A table of bras … with his armis c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace vii. 110.
The fyrst writtyng was gros letteris of bras a1500 Buke of the Sevyne Sagis 1625.
Ane ymage with a arow & bow of bras c1500 Rowll Cursing 214.
With bugillis and hornis maid of bras 1507 Dunferm. B. Rec. 163.
A pot of iij quartes … of bras 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 145/29.
Coppir, bras, and yrn, and vthir mettellis 1555 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 311.
Thre schawis of bras to the cran 1585 9th Rep. Hist. MSS. 193/1.
Ane pair of quheillis … buschit with bras(b) c 1450 Misc. Maitl. C.: III. 205.
Ane letturon of brace for the wangell 1541 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 176.
Ane chandlar of brace 1542 Aberd. Univ. Rec. 577.
Five [gun-] chalmeris and calmis of brais 1562-3 Winȝet I. 114/19.
Sepulturis of brace, leid, and siklyke 1562-3 Ib. II. 57/4.
That thow … for gold … put down leid, or … brase 1572-5 Diurnal of Occurrents 324.
Thir jewallis wer maid of brace, and doubill ourgilt with gold 1587 Acts III. 522/1.
That thair be double standertis of all … wechtis, mettis, and measouris maid of brais 1622-6 Bisset II. 209/26.
Ten stane of brase makis ane barrell 1636 Thanes of Cawdor 281.
Twa keil pettoris of brace 1645 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 54.
Ane plate of brase, haveing engraven thairon the name and armes [etc.](c) 1567 Bamff Chart. 71.
Ane pouset [sic] of bres 1567 Ib.
Ane small pann of bres a1570-86 Maitland Folio MS xxix. 131.
Without I … brag out and tak ane face of bres 1591 Wedderburn Compt Bk. 166.
The bres quhilk the armes wes on 1645 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. III. 44.
A leid of bres for brewing
2. attrib. = Brasin a. 1610 Kynloss Abbey, p. xi.
4 brase wall candell beiraris 1653 Edinburgh Testaments LXVII. 45.
Ane brace laiddell, ane flesch cruik 1653 Proceedings of Society of Antiquaries XXIII. 302.
Ane brase skummer 1685 Ib. LVIII. 354.
A shuffell with brase bosses 1700 Irvine Mun. II. 317.
Three dozen of bresse buttons
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"Bras n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/bras>
