also BREKYL, BREKYLLE, BRICKEL, BRICKELL, BRYCKEL, BRYCKLE, BRYKLE
DEFINITIONS ADJECTIVES 1. frail, weak ...c1460 obs. 2. liable to break, easily broken; fragile, brittle ...1468 obs. exc. Eng. & Amer. dial. 3. delicate, ticklish; requiring cautious handling ...1568 obs. 4. changeable, uncertain; fickle, not trustworthy ...1872 Eng. & Amer. dial. 5. eager, keen, industrious, ambitious ...1902 Amer. dial. 6. of sheep and cattle: given to break fences ...Eng. dial. VERBS to flake or peel because of brittleness ...1936 Amer. dial. CLICK HERE FOR KEY TO SOURCES ETYMOLOGY from E-NED: A parallel form to Middle English bruchel (-y-), pointing to Old English type *brycel, brycl-es (cf. the mod. forms much, mickle, earlier Scottish mekyl, from Old English mycel, mycl-es):—Old Teutonic*brukilo-, from pa. pple. stem of brek-an (Old English brecan) to break; cf. the parallel brittle:—Old English brytel:—Old Teutonic *brutilo- from pa. pple. stem of bréotan. See also the doublets britchel, brockle, bruckle. EXAMPLE (for definition 1) From: Certain Ancient Tracts Concerning the Management of Landed Property Reprinted 1767 The Boke of Husbandry P. 63
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