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: 1375, 1499-1596
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Brawl, Braul, v.1 Also: brawle, brawll; braule, braull. [ME. brawle (c 1440), braule, bralle, of doubtful origin.] intr. To contend stoutly; to quarrel or boast loudly; to engage in brawling. 1375 Barb. i. 573.
He … swour that he suld wengeance ta Off that Brwys, that presumyt swa Aganys him to brawle or rys a1500 Tale of the Colkelbie Sow i. 136.
For brawle doggis at the dure, All settis on the sory hound That lyis euir at the grund 1513 Doug. viii. Prol. 125.
Thou … That braulis thus with thi bost, quhen bernys with thé bourdis 1513 Ib. xii. viii. 84.
Turnus … Now brawland in this place, now voustand thar 1540 Lynd. Sat. Proclam. 184.
Sen sic as thow began to brawll & boist, The commoun weill of Scotland hes bene loist 1540 Ib. 2913.
Sit still, my Lord. Ȝe neid not for til braull 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 155/13.
Let thame not braull on euerie bink 1560 Ib. 20.
Than sall ȝe braull, than sall ȝe ban 1596 Dalr. I. 301/6.
Sueno … bostes and braules that Scotland had furnist Ingland … to the weiris 1596 Ib. II. 212/22.
Quhen the Erle of Moray saw thame bost, braule, and vaunt sa proudlie
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"Brawl v.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/brawl_v_1>
