▪ I. † broll Obs. exc. dial.
Forms: 4 brol, brolle, 6 brawl, 9 dial. browl.
[Of unknown origin: The Promp. Parv. explains ‘Breyel’ as brollus, brolla, miserculus; but this may be merely the Eng. word latinized. It seems possible that, as brethel was app. reduced to breel, brothel may have been reduced to brōl, but evidence is wanting.]
Offspring, child; contemptuously, a brat, an ‘imp’, a little wretch.
| a 1325 Lullaby in Rel. Ant. II. 177 The wrech brol that is of Adams blode. 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. iii. 204 Þe leste brolle [v.r. brol] of his blode a barounes pere. c 1380 Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 195 Fiȝtten wiþ þer wif and meyne as þei weren Sathanas brollis. 1394 P. Pl. Crede 745 Now mot ich soutere his sone setten to schole And ich a beggers brol on þe booke lerne. 1575 J. Still Gamm. Gurton ii. ii. Shall such a beggars brawl as that, thinkest thou, make me a thief? 1864 Atkinson Whitby Gloss., Browl, a brat, a term of displeasure towards an offending child. ‘You brazen'd young browl’. 1875 F. K. Robinson Whitby Gloss. (E.D.S.), Browl, a ‘brat’, an impudent youth. |
▪ II. † broll, v. Obs. rare—1.
[? by-form of brawl v., or ? ad. Du. brullen to roar.]
To roar, sound loud.
| 1660 Engl. Monarchy Freest State 7 Since this Rumble of a Free State and Commonwealth hath brolled in our heads. |