Brag v.

Also 4–7 bragge, 6 brage, braggue, Sc. braig. [See under BRAG sb.¹]

  † 1.  intr. Of a trumpet: To sound loudly; also, to make a loud sound (with a trumpet); trans. to sound (a trumpet). Cf. BRAG sb.¹ 1.

1382.  Wyclif, Josh. vi. 5. Whanne the voyce of the trompe … in ȝoure eeris braggith [1388 sowne].

a. 1400[?].  Morte Arth., 1484. Thane þe Bretones boldely braggene þeire tromppez. Ibid., 4108. Bremly the brethemen bragges in troumppes.

  2.  intr. and refl. To vaunt, talk boastfully, boast oneself. (In earlier examples chiefly in conjunction with boast.) Const. (on, in, obs.) of, about.

1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. XIII. 281. For-why he bosteth and braggeth with many bolde othes.

1543.  Hen. VIII., Parl. Speech, 24 Dec. If I see a Man boast and brag himself, I cannot but deem him a Proud Man.

c. 1645.  Howell, Lett. (1688), II. 389. The fashion of his Face which … he hath no cause to brag of.

1647.  W. Browne, Polex., I. 225. I will no more brag in being one of his slaves.

1728.  Morgan, Algiers, II. ii. 234. Nor has our [Nation] abundance of Reason to brag of its superabundant Regularity.

1786.  Wolcott (P. Pindar), Ode R. A’s, x. Wks. 1812, I. 154. Garrick, on whom our Nation justly brags.

1858.  Gladstone, Homer, III. 562. The disposition of the Trojan chief to brag.

  † b.  To swagger, strut, ‘show off.’ Obs.

a. 1553.  Udall, Royster D. (Arb.), 64. Idle loytrers, braggyng vp and downe.

1578.  T. N., trans. Conq. W. India, 40. They should … not thus bragge in other mens land.

1589.  R. Harvey, Pl. Perc. (1860), 28. You shal haue a lame Iade, bridle and brag it vp and downe Smithfield.

  fig.  1588.  Shaks., L. L. L., V. ii. 683. She’s quick, the child brags in her belly alreadie: ’tis yours [i.e., Braggart’s].

  3.  trans. a. To defy proudly, challenge; also, to bully, threaten. Obs. exc. dial. b. To impose upon or overawe by boasting (mod., perhaps with allusion to game of brag).

1551.  Ascham, Lett., Wks. 1865, I. II. 257. Two fair castles of either side of Rhene … one bragging the other.

a. 1555.  Ridley, Wks., 115. They will outface, brace, and brag all men.

1584.  J. Carmichael, Lett., in Misc. Wodrow Soc. (1844), 438. The King … boasting the poor, and bragging the rich.

1823.  Scott, Quentin D., I. 60 (D.). An artist who might brag all Paris.

1843.  Proc. Berw. Nat. Club, II. 58. Amateurs from one part of the county … by challenging or bragging those of the vicinity … provoked a vigorous competition.

1875.  Whyte-Melville, Katerfelto, xviii. 202. Our old Duke wasn’t to be bragged at such a game as that.

  4.  To boast of, vaunt, lay boastful claim to.

1588.  A. King, trans. Canisius’ Catech., 224. Na man quha braigs confidence and certantie of ye remission of his sinnes.

1600.  S. Nicholson, Acolastus (1876), 54. Euery stalke Brags the sweete blossomes he is blest withall.

1611.  Shaks., Cymb., V. iii. 93. He brags his seruice.

1625.  K. Long, trans. Barclay’s Argenis (1636), 389. These which bragge their skill in controversies.

1790.  Morison, Poems, 82 (Jam.). Ye’ll brag high rank, Or heaps o’ siller.

  5.  To declare or assert boastfully, to boast. Const. with obj. inf. (obs.) or subord. cl.

1563–87.  Foxe, A. & M., III. 878. The very meanest … bragged that they had bathed their hands in the blood of a Lutheran.

1627.  P. Fletcher, Locusts, III. xxviii. That eye, and eare, Which being blind, and deafe, bragges best to see, and heare.

a. 1659.  Cleveland, Rebel Scot, i. No more let Ireland brag her harmless nation Harbours no venom.

1725.  Ramsay, Gentle Sheph., V. iii. I’ll … brag for aye that I was ca’d the aunt O’ our young lady.

1870.  Bryant, Iliad, VIII. I. 295. Bragged that each of you would be A match for fivescore Trojans.

  6.  In the game of Brag (see BRAG sb. 6).

1734.  Seymour, Compl. Gamester, 21. The best Cards you can have really to brag of are a Pair Royal of Aces.