α. early Middle English briþeling, Middle English breþeling, 1900s– bretheling (historical).
β. late Middle English broþelyng.
γ. 1500s bretherlynge.
δ. 1600s brotherlinge.
brethelingn.
/ˈbrɛθl̩ɪŋ/, /ˈbrɛθlɪŋ/, U.S. /ˈbrɛθ(ə)lɪŋ/ A worthless or contemptible person; a good-for-nothing; a wretch; = brethel n.In later use only in historical fiction.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > inferiority or baseness > worthlessness > worthless person > [noun]
ribalda1250
brethelingc1275
filec1300
waynouna1350
waster1352
lorel1362
losel1362
land-leaper1377
javelc1400
leftc1400
lorerc1400
shackerellc1420
brethel1440
never-thrift1440
ne'er-thrifta1450
never-thrivinga1450
nebulona1475
breelc1485
naughty pack?1534
brathel1542
unsel155.
pelf1551
wandrel?1567
land-loper1570
scald1575
baggage1594
arrant1605
good-for-nothing1611
hilding1611
vauneant1621
idle-pack1624
thimble-maker1654
never-do-well1664
ne'er-be-good1675
shack1682
vagabond1686
shag-bag1699
houndsfoot1710
blackguard1732
ne'er-do-well1737
trumpery1738
rap1742
good-for-naught1773
rip1781
mauvais sujet1793
scamp1808
waffie1808
loose fish1809
ne'er-do-good1814
hard bargain1818
vaurien1829
sculpin1834
shicer1846
wastrel1847
scallywag1848
shack-bag1855
beat1865
rodney1877
git1939
no-hoper1944
piss artist1962
society > morality > moral evil > evil nature or character > lack of magnanimity or noble-mindedness > [noun] > worthlessness > good-for-nothing person
brethelingc1275
filec1300
dogc1330
ribald1340
waynouna1350
waster1352
lorel1362
losel1362
land-leaper1377
triflera1382
brothelc1390
javelc1400
leftc1400
lorerc1400
shackerellc1420
brethel1440
never-thrift1440
vagrant1444
ne'er-thrifta1450
never-thrivinga1450
nebulona1475
breelc1485
naughty pack?1534
brathel1542
carrion1547
slim1548
unsel155.
pelf1551
shifterc1562
rag1566
wandrel?1567
land-loper1570
nothing-worth1580
baggage1594
roly-poly1602
bash-rag1603
arrant1605
ragabash?1609
flabergullion1611
hilding1611
hard bargain1612
slubberdegullion1612
vauneant1621
knick-knacker1622
idle-pack1624
slabberdegullion1653
thimble-maker1654
whiffler1659
never-do-well1664
good-for-nought1671
ne'er-be-good1675
shack1682
vagabond1686
shabaroon1699
shag-bag1699
houndsfoot1710
ne'er-do-well1737
trumpery1738
rap1742
hallion1789
scamp1808
waffie1808
ne'er-do-good1814
vaurien1829
sculpin1834
shicer1846
good-for-nothing1847
wastrel1847
scallywag1848
shack-bag1855
beat1865
toe-rag1875
rodney1877
toe-ragger1896
low-lifer1902
punk1904
lowlife1909
ringtail1916
git1939
no-hoper1944
schlub1950
piss artist1962
dead leg1964
c1275 in R. Morris Old Eng. Misc. (1872) 184 Þral vn-buxsum, Aþeling briþeling, Lond wið-ute laȝe.
c1330 (?a1300) Arthour & Merlin (Auch.) (1973) l. 164 Our princes..seyd þat her king Nas bot a breþeling [a1425 Linc. Inn broþelyng, 1510 de Worde bretherlynge, c1650 Percy Brotherlinge].
a1450 ( in J. Kail 26 Polit. Poems (1904) 46 Þanne knaue, beggere, pore broþelyng, May apere wiþ pape and wiþ kyng.
1942 H. Foy What is Hys Lyflode in Best One-act Plays 1941 193 You, lewd bretheling.., we have not lost much in you; you shall never be at mine heart as you have been.
2011 A. D. Bardswell Poor Preachers 207 Liefer would we your fellowship seek than that of this malapert, cautelous bretheling!
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2022).
<
n.c1275