† ˈbritten, v. Obs.
Forms: 1 brytnian, 3 briten, 3–4 britten, 4 britton, bryttyn(e, bretten, -on, bryton, brutten, (also pa. tense and pple. brittnet, britned, -et, brutned), 4–5 brittun, -yn, 5 brytten, (brytn-is, britn-is, britynn-it), Sc. bertyn (bertn-it), bartyn (bartn-it).
[OE. brytnian:—OTeut. *brutjinôn, f. *brutjon-, in OE. brytta distributor, dispenser, f. stem brut- of *breutan to break, divide: cf. brittle.]
1. trans. To distribute, dispense. (Only in OE.)
| a 1000 Beowulf 4756 Þara ðe in Swio-rice sinc brytnade. |
2. To divide.
| c 1200 Ormin 14178 Þiss werelld..iss dæledd and brittnedd onntill daless þre. |
3. To cut or hew in pieces; to kill, slay, butcher.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 8720 God it wit-schild Þat þou britten [v.r. briten, brettyn] sua mi child. c 1350 Will. Palerne 1073 Þe douȝti duk..bet adoun burwes, & brutned moche peple. ? a 1400 Morte Arth. 106 He salle..Bryne Bretayne þe brade, and bryttyne thy knyghtys. Ibid. 1487 With brandes of broune stele they brettened maylez. c 1400 Destr. Troy 1971 Drawen as a dog & to dethe broght: Brittonet þi body into bare qwarters. c 1470 Henry Wallace iii. 400 Sothroune men yat bertynit war to deide. 1513 Douglas æneis ii. 114 Cruell Pyrrus, Quhilk brytnys the son befor the faderis face. 1535 Stewart Cron. Scot. I. 334 Tha bertynd hir, baith bodie, bane and blude. |
b. Hunting. To cut up or ‘break’ (a boar or deer); cf. brittle v.
| c 1340 Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 1339 Siþen britned þay þe brest, & brayden hit in twynne. c 1420 Avow. Arth. xvii, Sethun brittuns he the best, As venesun in forest. 1535 Stewart Cron. Scot. II. 192 Quhen he wes bertnit to gif the houndis blude. Ibid. 431 Tha bar[t]nit thame lyke ony bludie deir. |