Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BRUIK, BROOK, Bruck, Breuke, v. Also bruke (Slk. 1818 Hogg B. of Bodsbeck iii.). [bruk Sc.; bryk m. and s.Sc.; brøk I.Sc., sn.Sc., but I.Sc. + brʌk]

1. To have the use of, to possess, enjoy. Used mostly in legal phrases; otherwise arch. Hence brooker, possessor, owner. Phr. to brook the life, to manage to survive (Ork. 1973 Orcadian (8 July)). Sc. 1722 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) II. 71:
Nor e'en the loyal Brooker of Bell-trees, Wha sang with hungry Wame his want o' Fees.Sc. 1887 R. L. Stevenson Merry Men ii.:
Mary, . . . what for hae ye no' put out the twa candlesticks? . . . We'll bruik them while we may.Sc. 1934 L. Spence in Gallov. Annual 11:
He made a band wi' ither nobles o' the same ilk to owrthraw the guid auld King and sae to brook the throne his ainsel'.Sc. 1991 Forbes Macgregor in Tom Hubbard The New Makars 17:
Oot-through the stable lantron's reek
He sees the unhained Hieland glen
He brookt or he was glaikt by men.Ork. 1742 A. W. Johnston in Old-Lore Misc., Ork., Sh., etc. (1907) I. ii. 55:
With full pouer to you and yours to Bruck and enjoy the same as your proper Stock Mark.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore 6:
The name the wean gat, was Helenore, That her ain grandame brooked lang before.Ags. 1820 Montrose Review (18 Feb.) 55/2:
Had I been to some lairdship born An' bruiked better claith and corn.Gsw. 1701 Records Burgh Gsw. (ed. Marwick 1908) 329:
To be brooked, exercised and enjoyed be him dureing all the days of his lyfetyme.

†2. Used in various excl. phrases of well-wishing to someone wearing, or about to wear, something for the first time — gen. an article of dress.Sc. 1721 J. Kelly Proverbs 359:
Well to breuke and me the old. [Spoken by one expecting to get the old.]ne.Sc. 1881 W. Gregor Folk-Lore of N.-E. Scot. 125:
“Faht are ye deein, my winsome laidie?” “Spinnin a sark t' my braw new son,” Quo' the cat, quo' she. “Weel may he brook it, my winsome laidie.”Dmf. [1777] J. Mayne Siller Gun (1808) 14:
Fair fa' ilk canny caidgy carl! Weil may he bruik his new apparel!