† ˈbrethel Obs.
[repr. OE. *briéþel:—OTeut. *brauþilo-z, f. *brauþu- (OE. bréaþ brittle, Leechd. I. 260); f. stem of prec. vb.: cf. brothel.]
A worthless fellow, good-for-nothing, wretch.
| c 1440 York Myst. xxvi. 179 Say, brethell, I bidde þe abide. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 50 Breþel [printed breyel], brollus. 1469 Marg. Paston in Lett. 617 II. 365 We haue lost of her but a brethele and set yt the les to hart. c 1547 Bale Sel. Wks. (1849) 244 Old superstitious bawds and brethels. |