BREER, BRERE, br[=e]r, _v.i._ (_Scot._) to sprout.
BREEZE, br[=e]z, _n._ a gentle gale: a wind: a disturbance or quarrel: a whispered rumour.--_adjs._ BREEZE'LESS, without a breeze: motionless; BREEZ'Y, fanned with or subject to breezes.--TO BREEZE UP, to freshen into a breeze. [Old Sp. _briza_, It. _brezza_ (Fr. _brise_, a cold wind).]
BREEZE, br[=e]z, _n._ (_Shak._) the gadfly.--Also written BREESE, BRIZE.
[A.S. _briosa_.]
BREGMA, breg'ma, _n._ the part of the skull where the frontal and the two parietal bones join--sometimes divided into the right and left bregmata.--_adj._ BREGMAT'IC. [Gr.]
BREHON, br[=e]'hon, _n._ an ancient Irish judge.--BREHON LAWS, the name given by the English to the system of jurisprudence which prevailed among the native Irish from an early period till towards the middle of the 17th century. [Ir. _breitheamh_, pl. _breitheamhuin_.]
BRELOQUE, bre-lok', _n._ an ornament attached to a watch-chain. [Fr.]
BREME, BREEM, br[=e]m, _adj._ (_Spens._) fiery, stern, boisterous, sharp.
[Prob. related to A.S. _breman_, to rage.]
BREN, bren, _v.t._ (_Spens._) to burn.--_pa.p._ and _adj._ BRENT. [See BURN.]
BRENT, brent, _adj._ (_Scot._) lofty: smooth, unwrinkled. [A.S. _brant_, steep; cog. with Ice. _brattr_.]
BRENT-GOOSE, brent'-g[=oo]s, _n._ a small species of wild goose, having the head, neck, long wing feathers, and tail black, the belly white, the rest slaty-gray--it visits the British coasts in winter.--Also BRANT'-GOOSE, or BRENT BARNACLE, and often confounded with the barnacle goose. [Prob.
_branded_ = brindled.]
BRESSUMMER. Same as BREASTSUMMER (q.v. under BREAST).
BRETHREN, bre_th_'ren, _pl._ of BROTHER (q.v.).
BRETON, bret'un, _adj._ belonging to Brittany or _Bretagne_, in France.
BRETTICE. Same as BRATTICE.
BRETWALDA, bret-wal'da, _n._ a title of supremacy applied by the _Anglo-Saxon Chronicle_ to Egbert and seven earlier kings, whose superiority was more or less acknowledged by other kings. [Lit. 'Lord of the _Britons_,' or 'of Britain.']
BREVE, br[=e]v, _n._ a pope's letter: the longest note now used in music, [Breve]. [It. _breve_--L. _brevis_, short.]
BREVET, brev'et, _n._ a military commission entitling an officer to take rank above that for which he receives pay.--_n._ BREVET'CY, the condition of one holding brevet rank. [Fr.--L. _brevis_, short.]
BREVIARY, br[=e]v'i-ar-i, _n._ book containing the daily service of the R.C. Church. [Fr. _breviaire_--L. _brevis_, short.]
BREVIATE, br[=e]'vi-[=a]t, _n._ a short compendium: a lawyer's brief. [L.
_brevi[=a]tus_--_brevi[=a]re_, to shorten--_brevis_, short.]
BREVIER, brev-[=e]r', _n._ a small type between bourgeois and minion, originally used in printing breviaries.
BREVITY, brev'it-i, _n._ shortness: conciseness. [L. _brevitas_--_brevis_, short.]
BREW, br[=oo], _v.t._ to prepare a liquor, as from malt and other materials: to contrive or plot.--_v.i._ to perform the operation of brewing ale or beer: to be gathering or forming.--_ns._ BREW'AGE, something brewed: mixed liquor; BREW'ER, one who brews; BREW'ERY, BREW'-HOUSE, a place for brewing; BREW'ING, the act of making liquor from malt: the quantity brewed at once; BREW'STER (now only _Scot._), a brewer. [A.S. _breowan_; cf. Ger.
_brauen_.]
BRIAR. Same as BRIER (1).
BRIAREAN, br[=i]-[=a]'re-an, _adj._ relating to _Briareus_, a hundred-handed giant: hence many-handed. [Gr.--_briaros_, strong.]
BRIAR-ROOT. See BRIER (2).
BRIBE, br[=i]b, _n._ something given to influence unduly the judgment or corrupt the conduct: allurement.--_v.t._ to influence by a bribe: to gain over.--_v.i._ to practise bribery.--_ns._ BRIB'ER, one who bribes; BRIB'ERY, the act of giving or taking bribes; BRIB'ERY-OATH, an oath taken by an elector that he has not been bribed. [O. Fr. _bribe_, a lump of bread; origin dub.]
BRIC-a-BRAC, brik'a-brak, _n._ old curiosities, or other articles of value.
[Acc. to Littre, formed after the phrase _de bric et de broc_, 'by hook and by crook.']
BRICK, brik, _n._ an oblong or square piece of burned clay: a loaf of bread in the shape of a brick: (_slang_) a reliable friend, a good fellow.--_v.t._ to lay or pave with brick.--_ns._ BRICK'BAT, a piece of brick; BRICK'CLAY, a clay used in making bricks; BRICK'-DUST, dust made by pounding bricks, a colour like that of brick-dust; BRICK'-EARTH, earth used in making bricks; BRICK'-FIELD, a place where bricks are made; BRICK'-KILN, a kiln in which bricks are burned; BRICK'LAYER, one who lays or builds with bricks; BRICK'LAYING; BRICK'MAKER, one whose trade is to make bricks; BRICK'-TEA, tea pressed into cakes; BRICK'-WORK, a structure formed of bricks.--LIKE A BRICK, with good-will. [Fr. _brique_, from root of BREAK.]
BRICKLE, brik'l, _adj._ (_Spens._ and _Scot._) apt to break: weak: troublesome. [Older form of BRITTLE.]
BRICOLE, brik'el, or brik-[=o]l', _n._ an ancient engine for throwing stones: the rebound of a ball from the wall of a tennis-court, an indirect stroke. [Fr.--Low L. _briccola_.]
BRIDAL, br[=i]d'al, _n._ a marriage feast: a wedding.--_adj._ belonging to a bride or a wedding: nuptial. [BRIDE, and ALE, a feast.]
BRIDE, br[=i]d, _n._ a woman about to be married: a woman newly married.--_v.i._ (_Shak._) to act the bride.--_ns._ BRIDE'-ALE (_obs._)--BRIDAL, the ale-drinking at a marriage feast; BRIDE'-BED, the marriage bed; BRIDE'CAKE, the bride's cake, or cake distributed at a wedding; BRIDE'-CHAM'BER, a nuptial apartment; BRIDE'GROOM, a man about to be married: a man newly married; BRIDE'MAID, BRIDE'S'-MAID, BRIDE'MAN, BRIDE'S'-MAN, young unmarried people who attend the bride and bridegroom at a wedding. [A.S. _brd_; Ice. _brudr_, Ger. _braut_, a bride.]
BRIDEWELL, br[=i]d'wel, _n._ a house of correction: a gaol. [From a palace near St _Bride's Well_ in London.]
BRIDGE, brij, _n._ a structure raised across a river, &c., or anything like such: the narrow raised platform whence the captain of a steamer gives directions: a thin upright piece of wood supporting the strings in a violin or similar instrument.--_v.t._ to build a bridge over.--_n._ BRIDGE'-HEAD, a fortification covering the end of a bridge nearest to the enemy's position.--_adj._ BRIDGE'LESS, without a bridge.--_n._ BRIDGE'-OF-BOATS, a bridge resting on boats moored abreast across a piece of water. [A.S.
_brycg_; Ger. _brucke_, Ice. _bryggja_.]
BRIDGE, brich, _n._ a modification of whist in which the dealer does not turn up the last card, but has the option (which he may pass to his partner) of declaring which suit shall be trumps.
BRIDLE, br[=i]'-dl, _n._ the apparatus on a horse's head, by which it is controlled: any curb or restraint: a gesture expressing pride or vanity.--_v.t._ to put on or manage by a bridle: to check or restrain.--_v.i._ to hold up the head proudly or affectedly.--_ns._ BR[=I]'DLE-HAND, the hand which holds the bridle in riding--the left hand; BR[=I]'DLE-PATH, a path or way for horsemen; BR[=I]'DLER, one who governs or restrains as by a bridle; BRI'DLE-REIN, the strap of a bridle.--TO BRIDLE UP (at something), to take something amiss. [A.S. _bridel_; Old High Ger. _brittel_.]
BRIDOON, brid'[=oo]n, _n._ the light snaffle usual in a military bridle, in addition to the ordinary bit, controlled by a separate rein. [Fr. _bridon_, _bride_, a bridle.]
BRIEF, br[=e]f, _n._ a short account of a client's case for the instruction of counsel: a writ: a short statement of any kind.--_adj._ short: concise.--_adj._ BRIEF'LESS.--_adv._ BRIEF'LY.--_n._ BRIEF'NESS.--IN BRIEF, in few words.--KING'S BRIEFS, royal mandates ordering collections to be made in chapels for building churches, &c.; PAPAL BRIEF, such documents as are issued without some of the solemnities proper to bulls.--THE BRIEF AND THE LONG (_Shak._), the short and the long.--TO BE BRIEF, to speak in a few words; TO HOLD A BRIEF, to be retained as counsel in a case; TO TAKE A BRIEF, to undertake a case. [Fr. _bref_--L. _brevis_, short.]
BRIER, br[=i]'er, _n._ a prickly shrub: a common name for the wild rose: (_Scot._) the thorn of the brier--also BR[=I]'AR.--_adjs._ BR[=I]'ERY, BR[=I]'ERED, having briers. [A.S. _brer_.]
BRIER, BRIAR, br[=i]'[.e]r, _n._ the white heath, a shrub grown in France, from the root of which tobacco-pipes are made: a pipe of this wood. [Fr.
_bruyere_, heath.]
[Illustration]
BRIG, brig, _n._ a two-masted, square-rigged vessel. [Shortened from Brigantine.]
BRIGADE, brig-[=a]d', _n._ a body of troops consisting of two or more regiments of infantry or cavalry, and commanded by a general officer, two or more of which form a division: a band of people more or less organised.--_v.t._ to form into brigades.--_ns._ BRIGADE'-M[=A]'JOR, a staff-officer attached to a brigade; BRIGADIER', BRIGADIER'-GEN'ERAL, a general officer of the lowest grade, who has command of a brigade. [Fr.
_brigade_--It. _brigata_--Low L. _briga_, strife.]
BRIGAND, brig'and, _n._ a robber or freebooter.--_ns._ BRIG'ANDAGE, freebooting: plundering; BRIG'ANDINE, BRIG'ANTINE, a coat-of-mail, composed of linen or leather, with steel rings or plates sewed upon it. [Fr.--It.
_brigante_--_briga_, strife.]
BRIGANTINE, brig'an-t[=i]n, _n._ a two-masted vessel, with the mainmast of a schooner and the foremast of a brig. [Fr. _brigantin_--It. _brigantine_, a pirate ship.]