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† Brute, n.2 Obs.
Also 6 bruit.
[In sense 1, a variant of Brett or Britt, influenced by the Brutus myth; in 2, app. = Brut, Brutus, itself.
From the Old Celtic (and Latin) Britto, Briton, there was subsequently formed the proper name of an eponymous hero, the reputed first king and founder of Britain. His name appears in Nennius also as Bruto, in the Irish version as Britus and Brutus. In the latter form he was linked with classical antiquity and the tale of Troy, being made a great-grandson of æneas. Brutus accordingly became the prevailing form in Latin writers; and was adapted in Welsh and OF. as Brut. Of this the sense was transferred through that of ‘chronicle or history of Brut’ to that of ‘chronicle of Britain’ or ‘Welsh chronicle’ generally: see brut. But its use as a proper name was not forgotten, and in the 16th c. it appears to have given rise to sense 2.]
1. A Briton, a Welshman.
1513Bradshaw St. Werburgh (1848) 152 Whyche kynge expulsed..All brutes and walshemen clere out of his londe. 1586Warner Alb. Eng. iii. xvi. 73 Pledges..that Denmark it should pay Continuall Tribute to the Brutes.
2. a. The legendary Trojan Brutus, first king of Britain, and founder of ‘Troynovant’ or London. b. A ‘Brutus’, a hero of British, Welsh, or Arthurian story. c. Hence, generally, a hero, ‘brave’, ‘gallant’, ‘worthy’ (by some writers used quite vaguely, and apparently without any notion of the original sense).
a1553Udall Roist. D. (Arb.) 17 Who is this? greate Goliah, Sampson, or Colbrande? No (say I) but it is a brute of the Alie lande. 1577J. Northbrooke Dicing (1843) 12 Consider..what jolly yonkers & lusty brutes these wil be when they come to be citizens. 1579Lyly Euphues (Arb.) 36 A great blotte to the lynage of so noble a brute. c1590Greene Fr. Bacon xiii. 78 These brave lusty Brutes, These friendly youths, did perish by thine art. 1593Peele Edw. I, Wks. 1839 I. 103 Lluellen. But if kind Cambria deign me good aspect, To make me chiefest Brute of western Wales. 1599― Sir Clyomon Wks. III. 83, I have given my faith and troth to such a bruit of fame As is the Knight of the Golden Shield. [1606Dekker Deadly Sinnes (Arb.) 46 London this fairest-fac'de daughter of Brute. Margin. 2700 and odde yeeres since London was first builded by Brute.] |