▪ I. † bruche1 Obs.
[OE. bryce, ME. bruche (ü) = OHG. bruh, MHG., modGer. bruch, MLG. broke, MDu. brōke, bröke, Du. breuk:—OTeut. *brukiz-, from stem bruk- of brek-an to break. In later ME. superseded by breche, breach.]
1. The action of breaking, fracture; fig. the breaking or violation of a command, engagement, etc.; transgression.
| a 900 Pol. Laws ælfred §3 (Bosw.) Ðæs borᵹes bryce. a 1000 Guthlac 670 (Gr.) Ne sy him banes bryce. c 1300 Thrush & Night. 28 Ne wes neuere bruche so strong I-broke with riȝte ne with wrong. |
b. esp. Violation of chastity.
| a 1225 Ancr. R. 38 Wiðuten euerich bruche, mid ihol meidenhod and meidenes menske. c 1230 Hali Meid. 13 Vre flesch..ȝif þat ha wit hire wiðute bruche cleane. |
2. A fractured or injured part; a fissure or break; = breach n. 7.
| a 1225 Leg. Kath. 1614 Þe bruchen of hire bodi, al tobroken of þe beatinge. a 1307 in Rel. Antiq. II. 272 At the furmeste bruche that he fond He lep in and over he wond. |
▪ II. † bruche2 Obs. rare.
Also brueche.
(See quot.)
| 1562 Turner Herbal ii. 29 b, Agarike is the same in a Larche tre that brueche as the Northern Englishmen call it, or as other call it, a todstole, is in a birche or a walnut tre..It groweth..vpon the bole or body of the tre..as other thynges lyke mushrummes todestooles or bruches do. |