brocket
(ˈbrɒkɪt)
Forms: 5–7 broket, 7 brockett, brochet, 6– brocket.
[ad. F. brocart, broquart, f. broque, broche broach: see -ard. Cf. brocard2.]
1. A stag in its second year with its first horns, which are straight and single, like a small dagger. (Sometimes incorrectly a deer in its third year.)
| a 1425 in Rel. Antiq. I. 151 The hert..the fyrst yere he is a calfe, the secunde yere a broket, the .iij. yere a spayer. 1513 Douglas æneis xii. Prol. 179 Heyrdis of hertis throw the thyk wod schaw, Baith the brokettis, and with brayd burnyst tyndis. 1611 Cotgr., Brocart, a two-yeare old Deere; which if he bee a red Deere, we call a Brocket; if a fallow, a Pricket. 1881 Greener Gun 510 To shoot a staggart, brocket, suckling, hind or calf is unwarrantable. |
2. A genus of deer of Brazil, having only short prongs for horns.
| 1837 Penny Cycl. VIII. 361/2 The Brockets (Les Daguets) of the French. 1850 Swainson Quadrup. §301 The brockets of the New World constitute the subulonine group of Major Smith. |
† 3. brocket-sister, a female deer of the second (or erron. third) year. Obs.
| 1625 in Rushw. Hist. Coll. (1721) III. ii. App. 8 A Hind and a Brocket Suster, being then both out of Season. 1677 N. Cox Gentl. Recreations i. (1706) 7 A Hinde..is called..the second year a Hearse; and sometimes we say Brockets Sister. 1696 Phillips s.v. Brock. |
4. dial. See quots. (Probably a distinct word.)
| 1769 Pennant Tour Scotl. 36 Sea-larks, [called] here [Farne Islands] brokets. 1867 Smyth Sailor's Word-bk., Broket..the sea-lark is so called at the Farne Islands. |