An Etymological Dictionary of the Scottish Language / in which the words are explained in their different senses, authorized by the names of the writers by whom they are used, or the titles of the works in which they occur, and deduced from their originals

by John Jamieson

Germ. brill, Su. G. briller, id. oculi vitrei, L. B. berill-us.

BREER, BRERE, BRAIRD, BREARD, s. The first appearance of grain above ground, after it is sown, S.
A fine breer, an abundant germination.
Ramsay.

A. S. brord, frumenti spicae, "corn new come up, or the spires of corn," Somner. "Bruart, the blades of corn just sprung up;" Gl. Lancash.

To Breer, Brere, Breard, v. n. To germinate, to shoot forth from the earth; applied especially to grain, S. Brerde, part. pa. Loth, brairded.
Douglas.

Breirding, s. Germination; used metaph. in relation to divine truth.
Rutherford.

BREESSIL, s. The act of coming on in a hurry, Fife.

A. S. brastl, crepitus, strepitus, brastl-ian, crepitare, strepere. Isl. brys, ardens calor; bryss-a, fervide aggredi.

BREGER, s. One given to broils and bloodshed.
Burel.

Fr. briguer, a quarrelsome, contentious, or litigious person. The origin is most probably Su. G. brigd-a, litigare.

BREHON, s. The name given to hereditary judges appointed by authority to determine, on stated times, all the controversies which happened within their respective districts. By the Brehon law, even the most atrocious offenders were not punished with death, imprisonment, or exile; but were obliged to pay a fine called Eric.
Dr. Macpherson.