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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.

Brist, Bryst, v. P. t. brast, braist, brest, brist; brystyd, -ed, bristit, -ed; brissin. [ME. briste, bryste, rare variant of breste Brest v. See also Birst and Brust.]

1. intr. To burst, break open or asunder.(a) a1400 Leg. S. l. 1037.
Quhat wondire is I brist for bale
c1420 Wynt. iv. 1001.
For to bryst than wald thai thynke
a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 641.
Baith thair hartis can brist, braithly but beild
a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 600.
For greit sorrow his hart to brist was boun
c1500-c1512 Dunb. lvi. 8.
To … fyll ane fow man quhyll he brist
Ib. lxiii. 69.
My hart neir bristis than for teyne
1513 Doug. x. xiii. 107.
Lyke as … clowdis brystis attanys
Ib. 913/16.
Bot thai schent sum, thai suld bryst for syte
1560 Rolland Seven S. 83/2.
It was maist lik hir hart to brist in two
1611-57 Mure Misc. P. iv. 15.
My hert doth brist for woe
(b) 1375 Barb. xii. 545.
Quhill men mycht her … A gret frusche of the speres that brast
a1400 Leg. S. xxviii. 423.
The best but bad Brast in twa
?1438 Alex. i. 153.
The stalwart speir in sunderis brast
Ib. 1016.
Of his nek the vanis brast
(c) 1375 Barb. viii. 87.
The belt brist of the brand
?1438 Alex. ii. 4099.
The scheild and the haubrek brist
Ib. 4108.
The speir brist on the plait of steill
c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxvii. 102.
For lawchtir neir I brist
15.. Clar. v. 2335.
Whill helmis … all to brist
c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 529.
Sir Talbartis speir in sunder brist
(d) a1400 Leg. S. iv. 344.
A fel dragon com tham till … And he bristit but langar lat
c1420 Wynt. v. 3002.
That felowne beste sone brystyd thare
Ib. 3375.
For the stynk … Mony that abowte hym ware To ded brystyd
1535 Stewart 34028.
His hart than brak and bristit into tuo
1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 74.
He bristit and swelt, sua that he deceissit

2. Of water, tears, etc.: To break out, issue suddenly. Usu. with out, furth, etc.(a) c1420 Wynt. i. 146.
It … brystys out syne at the strande … by the Rede Se
Ib. iii. 308.
Than begouth to bryst Owt off a tuythe … Wattyr clere
c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 164.
Now sall the byle all out brist, that beild has so lang
1513 Doug. iii. vii. 43.
Terys brysting furth on fors
Ib. viii. 145.
From that furnys the flambe doith brist or glide
Ib. vii. vii. 114.(b) 1375 Barb. iv. 129.
The fyre out syne in blasis brast
a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 15.
Throw out the glas hir bemis brast sa fair
(b) 1375 Barb. ii. 352.
The blud owt at thar byrnys brest
a1500 Rauf C. 859.
Till the blude of his browis brest out abufe
(c) a1400 Leg. S. ix. 222.
Sprakis of fyre bryste owt bedene
c1475 Wall. ii. 428.
The blyth teris tho bryst fro his eyne two
1533 Boece xi. ii. 403 b.
Out of ye side of ane litil knowe … blude bryst oute
c1552 Lynd. Mon. 3909.
Tyll blude aboundantlye out bryst
(d) c1420 Wynt. i. 401.
Belyde boggys than out brystyd
Ib. vii. 2010.
Owt off the nesthryllys twa The red blud brysted owt

b. Of persons, or other source of tears, etc. a1400 Leg. S. xxix. 811.
Out scho brast son of greit
a1500 Gal. & Gaw. 754.
Thai brochit blonkis to thair sydis out of blude braist
1513 Doug. xii. Prol. 235.
The merl … With mery notis myrthfully furth brest
1533 Boece i. vi. 47.
Thare wiffis … brist out in prayer and teris
15.. Clar. iii. 112.
Full sorrowfull, and bristing out of greit

3. tr. To cause to burst or break out.(1) c1420 Wynt. v. 1956 (A).
Scho bristid and befft baitht bak and banys
?1438 Alex. i. 956.
He bristand bair him butlingis in
a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 454.
Thai brist his breist, full wan thai mak his face
1535 Stewart 508.
Br[e]istis war brissin, bayth bludie maid and bla
1533 Boece viii. xiii. 279 b.
Certane marcheandis … had thare … gere … bristit and brokin
15.. Clar. v. 1161.
Ather his leg or arme he brist in two
1548 Treas. Acc. IX. 172.
For ane hors gevyn … to George Trotar, quha bristit his hors cuming be the post furthe of Ȝaister
(2) 1513 Doug. iii. v. 60.
With that word scho bryst furth mony a teir

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"Brist v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 2 Dec 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/brist>

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