▪ I. † breer Obs. exc. in Sc. or north dial.
[cf. next.]
A sprout, shoot; in mod.Sc. ‘the first appearance of grain above ground, after it is sown’ (Jamieson).
| c 1320 Cast. Love 123 Blosme on bouȝ and breer on rys. 1808 Jamieson s.v. A fine breer, an abundant germination. |
▪ II. † breer, brere, v. Sc. or north dial.
A variant of braird, to sprout, germinate.
| c 1700 Kennet MS. Gloss., To brere..as corn just coming up. 1816 Scott Old Mort. viii, ‘A braw night this for the rye..the west park will be breering bravely this e'en.’ 1846 Brockett Gloss. N.C. Wds., Brere, Brear. |
▪ III. breer(e
dial. form of brier.