Part 107 (2/2)

1. A sort of bridle, often used by country people in riding. Instead of leather, it has on each side a piece of wood joined to a halter, to which a bit is sometimes added; but more frequently a kind of wooden noose resembling a muzzle, S.

_Montrose's Mem._

Within these few years, an iron bit was preserved in the steeple of Forfar, formerly used, in that very place, for torturing the unhappy creatures who were accused of witchcraft. It was called _The Witch's Branks_.

Gael. _brancas_, a halter. But our word seems originally the same with Teut. _pranghe_, _muyl-pranghe_, postomis, pastomis, confibula; instrumentum quod naribus equorum imponitur; Kilian.

2. _Branks_, I suspect, is sometimes used in S. as synon. with _jugs_ or pillory.

_Howie._

BRANKS, _s. pl._ A swelling in the chops, S. A. from the compression of the parts, as the chops of a horse are compressed by the _branks_ which he wears; the _buffets_, S. B.

BRANNOCK, _s._ The Samlet, or small fish generally known in S. by the name of _Par. Branlin_, Yorks.

BRASAND, _part. pr._ Embracing.

Fr. _bras_, the arm.

_Douglas._

_To_ BRASE, BRa.s.s, _v. a._ To bind, to tie.

_Wallace._

Fr. _embra.s.s-er_, to bind.

BRASERIS, BRASARIS, _s. pl._ Vambraces, armour for the arms.

_Wallace._

Fr. _bra.s.sar_, _bra.s.sard_, _bra.s.sart_, id.; brachiale ferreum; from _bras_, the arm, Lat. _brach-ium_.

_To_ BRASH, _v. a._ To a.s.sault, to attack.

V. ~Bresche~.

_Sir W. More._

Teut. _broes-en_, tempestuosum et furentem ventum spirare; or from A. S. _beraes-an_, impetuose proruere, irruere.

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