Obs. Also 6 Sc. boreau, burreau, 7 boureau: see also BURRIO. [In 16th c. boreau, a. OF. boreau (earlier borel), now bourreau, of uncertain origin: see Diez and Littré. Common, in many spellings in Scotch literature.] An executioner, hangman or torturer. Chiefly fig.
1549. Compl. Scot., 27. That samyn boreau is stikkit or hangit eftiruart for his cruel demeritis. Ibid. The cruel inglis men … ar boreaus ande hang men permittit be god to puneis vs.
1567. Fenton, Trag. Disc., 208 b. Couetousnes and gredie desier is thordynarie torment and contynual bourreau that trobles the mynd of thold man.
1584. J. Melvill, Diary (1842), 203. Bludie burreaus and crewall buchars of Sathan.
1599. James I., Βασιλικον Δωρον (1682), 20. A Tyrannes … infamous life armeth … his owne subjects to become his burreaux.
c. 1720. Prior, Viceroy xviii. (D.). The Bourreau did his worst.
