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: 1905-1935
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†BREESE, n.1 and v.
1. n. Crushed rock (gen. sandstone or limestone); chippings for strewing a floor. Cf. Eng. breeze, small cinders and cinder-dust. [bri:z]Ayr. 1905 E.D.D. Suppl.:
Do the descendants of the Ayrshire folk who made Campbelton still call chappet sand breese?Ayr.9 1935:
The word seems to be obs. I have been told that breese used to be hawked through the streets, and also that a block was obtained, then broken into small pieces . . . and used for scouring tables.
2. v. To crush down, pound.Gsw. and Ayr. 1935 (per Kcb.1):
Children playing at keeping a shop used to breese sandstone to make sand.
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"Breese n.1, v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Sep 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/breese_n1_v>
