Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1823-1871, 1933-1935
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BRAVITY, Braivity, n. Ornament, splendour, finery, esp. in dress. Given in N.E.D. as obs.; last quot. 1689. [′bre:vɪtɪ̢]Bnff.(D) 1933 M. Symon Deveron Days 35:
The hoose is fu' o' bravities, An' a' new-fangled trock.Abd.(D) 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xliii.:
A braw new “viackle” . . . a braivity at Clinkstyle that hardly beseems fowk 't's sib to fish cadgers an' sic like.Abd.2 1935Ags. 1823 Montrose Review (6 Nov.) 357/3:
And them that deals in bravity Remove their silken duds.Ags.1 1935, obsol.Fif. 1864 W. D. Latto Tammas Bodkin (1868) vii.:
Fling aff yer orra duds, an' don yer bravity, lass!Fif.10 1935
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"Bravity n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Feb 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/bravity>
