▪ I. bragget
(ˈbrægɛt)
Forms: 4–7 bragg-, bragat, -et(t, 4–9 bragg-, bragot(te, 4–7 braket, 6 brogat, 8–9 bracket, 6– bragget; 9 (Sc.) bragwort, bregwort.
[a. Welsh bragawd, earlier bracaut = Ir. bracát:—OCeltic *brăcāta, f. the OCeltic word given by Pliny and Columella, in the acc. bracem, as the Gaulish name of a kind of grain, whence Welsh brag, OIr. brac, mod.Ir. braich malt. The forms brackwoort, bragwort, bregwort indicate an association with wort2; a late Sc. form is bragwud; see also bragoes.]
A drink made of honey and ale fermented together; latterly the honey has been replaced by sugar and spice. Also attrib. in Braggot Sunday. See also brackwoort.
| c 1386 Chaucer Miller's T. 75 Hir mouth was sweete as bragot [v.r. braket] or the Meeth. c 1420 Pallad. on Husb. iii. 812 In bragot then or wyne or meeth hem kepe. 1586 Cogan Haven Health ccxxxviii. (1636) 267 To make Bragget. Take three or foure galons of good Ale or more. c 1618 Fletcher Woman's Prize iii. ii, Out upon her, How she turned down the Bragget! 1727 Bradley Fam. Dict., Bragget, a Drink made with Honey and Spice. 1802 Sibbald Chron. Scot. Poetry Gloss. (Jam.) Bragwort, mead, a beverage made from the dregs of honey. 1821 Blackw. Mag. Jan. 405 (Jam.) The Scottish bregwort, or mead, so plentiful at a harvest supper. 1841 Gresley For. Arden 107 Bracket, a preparation of ale with honey. 1872 Hardwick Trad. Lanc. 78 Mid Lent Sunday is likewise called Braggat or Braggot Sunday, from the custom of drinking ‘mulled’ or spiced ale on that day. |
▪ II. bragget
obs. form of bracket n.