a. dial. Also -brattle, -brackle, etc. (see Eng. Dial. Dict., s.v. Work-bracco). [f. WORK sb. or v.; the second element appears to be BRITTLE a., but the sense-development is obscure.] Eager to work, industrious.
1647. Trapp, Marrow Gd. Authors, in Comm. Ep., 627. What need she [sc. Anne Bullen] be so work-brittle, being a Queen?
1691. Ray, N. C. Words, Worch-bracco, i. e. work-brittle, very diligent; earnest or intent upon one’s work.
a. 1800. Pegge, Suppl. Grose, Warch-brattle, fond of work. Lanc.
1881. Oxfordsh. Gloss., Suppl. (E.D.S.), Work-brittle, eager to work.
