brawadj.adv.n.
/brɔː/, U.S. /brɔ/, Scottish English /brɔ/ Scottish.
A. adj. (and adv.)
1. = brave adj. 2; finely-dressed; splendid, showy.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beauty > splendour > [adjective] > of fine or gay appearance
gay?c1225
jollyc1380
gallantc1420
show-worthy1542
gaud-glorious1555
brave1568
of show1580
gaudy1583
braving1600
cavalier1670
showish1675
showy1712
braw1724
branky1790
viewy1850
cheesy1858
cheesy1863
jazzified1920
jazzed1922
zizzy1966
1724 A. Ramsay Tea-table Misc. (ed. 9) I. 8 She was the brawest in a' the town.
c1774 C. Keith Farmer's Ha' Put on your best array, And let's be braw.
1786 R. Burns Poems & Songs (1968) I. 146 To show a braw new gown.
1816 W. Scott Old Mortality v, in Tales of my Landlord 1st Ser. II. 105 Ye think yoursel a bra' fellow enow; and troth..there's na fault to find wi' the outside.
1816 W. Scott Old Mortality vi, in Tales of my Landlord 1st Ser. II. 140 Ye may marry ony leddy..ye like, and keep a braw house at Milnwood, for there's enow of means.
2. = brave adj. 3; worthy, excellent, capital, fine.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > excellence > [adjective]
faireOE
bremea1000
goodlyOE
goodfulc1275
noblec1300
pricec1300
specialc1325
gentlec1330
fine?c1335
singulara1340
thrivena1350
thriven and throa1350
gaya1375
properc1380
before-passinga1382
daintiful1393
principala1398
gradelya1400
burlyc1400
daintyc1400
thrivingc1400
voundec1400
virtuousc1425
hathelc1440
curiousc1475
singlerc1500
beautiful1502
rare?a1534
gallant1539
eximious1547
jolly1548
egregious?c1550
jellyc1560
goodlike1562
brawc1565
of worth1576
brave?1577
surprising1580
finger-licking1584
admirablea1586
excellinga1586
ambrosial1598
sublimated1603
excellent1604
valiant1604
fabulous1609
pure1609
starryc1610
topgallant1613
lovely1614
soaringa1616
twanging1616
preclarent1623
primea1637
prestantious1638
splendid1644
sterling1647
licking1648
spankinga1666
rattling1690
tearing1693
famous1695
capital1713
yrare1737
pure and —1742
daisy1757
immense1762
elegant1764
super-extra1774
trimming1778
grand1781
gallows1789
budgeree1793
crack1793
dandy1794
first rate1799
smick-smack1802
severe1805
neat1806
swell1810
stamming1814
divine1818
great1818
slap-up1823
slapping1825
high-grade1826
supernacular1828
heavenly1831
jam-up1832
slick1833
rip-roaring1834
boss1836
lummy1838
flash1840
slap1840
tall1840
high-graded1841
awful1843
way up1843
exalting1844
hot1845
ripsnorting1846
clipping1848
stupendous1848
stunning1849
raving1850
shrewd1851
jammy1853
slashing1854
rip-staving1856
ripping1858
screaming1859
up to dick1863
nifty1865
premier cru1866
slap-bang1866
clinking1868
marvellous1868
rorty1868
terrific1871
spiffing1872
all wool and a yard wide1882
gorgeous1883
nailing1883
stellar1883
gaudy1884
fizzing1885
réussi1885
ding-dong1887
jim-dandy1888
extra-special1889
yum-yum1890
out of sight1891
outasight1893
smooth1893
corking1895
large1895
super1895
hot dog1896
to die for1898
yummy1899
deevy1900
peachy1900
hi1901
v.g.1901
v.h.c.1901
divvy1903
doozy1903
game ball1905
goodo1905
bosker1906
crackerjack1910
smashinga1911
jake1914
keen1914
posh1914
bobby-dazzling1915
juicy1916
pie on1916
jakeloo1919
snodger1919
whizz-bang1920
wicked1920
four-star1921
wow1921
Rolls-Royce1922
whizz-bang1922
wizard1922
barry1923
nummy1923
ripe1923
shrieking1926
crazy1927
righteous1930
marvy1932
cool1933
plenty1933
brahmaa1935
smoking1934
solid1935
mellow1936
groovy1937
tough1937
bottler1938
fantastic1938
readyc1938
ridge1938
super-duper1938
extraordinaire1940
rumpty1940
sharp1940
dodger1941
grouse1941
perfecto1941
pipperoo1945
real gone1946
bosting1947
supersonic1947
whizzo1948
neato1951
peachy-keen1951
ridgey-dite1953
ridgy-didge1953
top1953
whizzing1953
badass1955
wild1955
belting1956
magic1956
bitching1957
swinging1958
ridiculous1959
a treat1959
fab1961
bad-assed1962
uptight1962
diggish1963
cracker1964
marv1964
radical1964
bakgat1965
unreal1965
pearly1966
together1968
safe1970
bad1971
brilliant1971
fabby1971
schmick1972
butt-kicking1973
ripper1973
Tiffany1973
bodacious1976
rad1976
kif1978
awesome1979
death1979
killer1979
fly1980
shiok1980
stonking1980
brill1981
dope1981
to die1982
mint1982
epic1983
kicking1983
fabbo1984
mega1985
ill1986
posho1989
pukka1991
lovely jubbly1992
awesomesauce2001
nang2002
bess2006
amazeballs2009
boasty2009
daebak2009
beaut2013
c1565 R. Lindsay Hist. & Cron. Scotl. (1728) 584 (Jam.) The recorder of Barvick..maid ane braw speech to his majestie.
1739 A. Nicol Poems 27 (Jam.) 'Tis unka bra', When ilka thing yields pleasure.
1814 W. Scott Waverley II. xvi. 243 ‘Ow ay! a bra' night,’ replied the lieutenant. View more context for this quotation
1827 J. Wilson Noctes Ambrosianae xxxiii, in Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. June 899 Peter, my braw man,..bring but a bottle o' Primrose wine.
3. Hence phrases braw and able, braw and canty, braw and soon, etc.: cf. the similar use of fine, nice.
ΚΠ
1768 A. Ross Fortunate Shepherdess 52 (Jam.) Look'd braw and canty whan she came in by.
B. n.
plural = bravery n. 3; fine clothes, finery.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pride > ostentation > [noun]
boast1297
strut1303
bombancec1325
bobantc1330
bobancec1380
ambitionc1384
oliprancec1390
pretence?a1439
ostentationa1475
pransawtea1500
bravity1546
finesse1549
bravery1573
overlashing1579
brave1596
peacockry1596
garishness1598
maggot ostentation1598
ostent1609
flaunta1625
spectability1637
vantation1637
fastuousness1649
fastuosity1656
finery1656
parade1656
phantastry1656
ostentatiousness1658
éclat1704
pretension1706
braw1724
swell1724
showiness1730
ostensibility1775
fanfaronade1784
display1816
showing off1822
glimmer1827
tigerism1836
peacockery1844
show-off1846
flare1847
peacockism1854
swank1854
tigerishness1869
flashness1888
flamboyance1891
peacockishness1892
flamboyancy1896
swankiness1920
plushness1949
glitziness1982
fantasia-
fantastication-
1724 A. Ramsay Tea-table Misc. (1733) I. 100 When she glaicks paughty in her braws.
?1795 H. Macneill Scotland's Scaith 8 Thousands had mair braws and siller, But ware ony half sae fair?
1818 W. Scott Heart of Mid-Lothian iv, in Tales of my Landlord 2nd Ser. II. 96 But, Madge, the lads only like ye when ye hae on your braws.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1888; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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adj.adv.n.c1565