| 释义 |
† brickle, a. Obs. or dial.|ˈbrɪk(ə)l|
Forms: 5 brekyl(le, bryckell, 6 bryckel, brickel(l, brykle, bryckle, 6– brickle.
[A parallel form to ME. bruchel (-y-), pointing to OE. type *brycel, brycl-es (cf. the mod. forms much, mickle, earlier Sc. mekyl, from OE. mycel, mycl-es):—OTeut. *brukilo-, f. pa. pple. stem of brek-an (OE. brecan) to break; cf. the parallel brittle:—OE. brytel:—OTeut. *brutilo- f. pa. pple. stem of bréotan. See also the doublets britchel, brockle, bruckle.]
1. Liable to break, easily broken; fragile, brittle.
1468Medulla Gram., Fracticeus, brekyl. Fragilis, freel or brekyl. 1523Fitzherb. Husb. §100 The houe before wyll be thycker, and more bryckle. 1534More On the Passion Wks. 1398/2 As a brickell earthen pot in pieces al to frush them. 1591Spenser Ruins Time 499 Th' Altare..Was built of brickle clay. 1611Bible Wisd. xv. 13 This man that of earthly matter maketh brickle vessels. 1663Gerbier Counsel 54 Many Bricks are brickle. 1747Hooson Miner's Dict. E ij b, Where it lies in a Body of considerable thickness, it is more Brickle and Joynty. 1875Lanc. Gloss. (E.D.S.) Brickle, britchel, fragile, brittle.
2. fig. Frail, weak.
c1460Towneley Myst. 101 The world..is ever in drede and brekylle as glas. 1494Fabyan vi. ccxiv. 231 This transetory and bryckell lyfe. 1562J. Heywood Prov. & Epigr. (1867) 157 Man is brickell. 1609Bible (Douay) Ps. lxxxix, Mans life as brickle as a spiders web. a1640Jackson Wks. (1844) I. 303 This brickle earthly life.
3. fig. Delicate, ticklish; requiring cautious handling.
1568Duke of Norfolk Let. in H. Campbell Love-lett. Mary Q. Scots App. 28 You may see howe farre..I wade in this most brykle cace. 1816Scott Old Mort. vii, ‘How I am to fend for ye now in thae brickle times’. |