† brickle, a. Obs. or dial.
(ˈbrɪk(ə)l)
Forms: 5 brekyl(le, bryckell, 6 bryckel, brickel(l, brykle, bryckle, 6– brickle.
[A parallel form to ME. bruchel (-y-), pointing to OE. type *brycel, brycl-es (cf. the mod. forms much, mickle, earlier Sc. mekyl, from OE. mycel, mycl-es):—OTeut. *brukilo-, f. pa. pple. stem of brek-an (OE. brecan) to break; cf. the parallel brittle:—OE. brytel:—OTeut. *brutilo- f. pa. pple. stem of bréotan. See also the doublets britchel, brockle, bruckle.]
1. Liable to break, easily broken; fragile, brittle.
| 1468 Medulla Gram., Fracticeus, brekyl. Fragilis, freel or brekyl. 1523 Fitzherb. Husb. §100 The houe before wyll be thycker, and more bryckle. 1534 More On the Passion Wks. 1398/2 As a brickell earthen pot in pieces al to frush them. 1591 Spenser Ruins Time 499 Th' Altare..Was built of brickle clay. 1611 Bible Wisd. xv. 13 This man that of earthly matter maketh brickle vessels. 1663 Gerbier Counsel 54 Many Bricks are brickle. 1747 Hooson Miner's Dict. E ij b, Where it lies in a Body of considerable thickness, it is more Brickle and Joynty. 1875 Lanc. Gloss. (E.D.S.) Brickle, britchel, fragile, brittle. |
2. fig. Frail, weak.
| c 1460 Towneley Myst. 101 The world..is ever in drede and brekylle as glas. 1494 Fabyan vi. ccxiv. 231 This transetory and bryckell lyfe. 1562 J. Heywood Prov. & Epigr. (1867) 157 Man is brickell. 1609 Bible (Douay) Ps. lxxxix, Mans life as brickle as a spiders web. a 1640 Jackson Wks. (1844) I. 303 This brickle earthly life. |
3. fig. Delicate, ticklish; requiring cautious handling.
| 1568 Duke of Norfolk Let. in H. Campbell Love-lett. Mary Q. Scots App. 28 You may see howe farre..I wade in this most brykle cace. 1816 Scott Old Mort. vii, ‘How I am to fend for ye now in thae brickle times’. |