[Etymology and spelling uncertain; prob. an application of the sense of ‘lever’ (BRAKE sb.4), or perh. of that of ‘curb’ (BRAKE sb.5); since F. frein, It. freno, literally ‘bridle,’ are used in this sense. This being so, the spelling break would be due to ‘popular etymology,’ because it ‘breaks’ the motion.]
1. An apparatus for retarding the motion of a wheel by means of pressure applied to the circumference; usually consisting of a wooden block or an iron or steel band, and of a lever for pressing it against the tire. Also fig. of any retarding agency.
α. 1772–82. W. Bailey, Machines Soc. Arts, I. 149. Z, Which occasionally draws down the brake on the periphery of the walking wheel.
1792. Trans. Soc. Arts, X. 233. The means will appear to be the gripe or brake at the top.
1825. N. Wood, Railroads, 78. The brake or lever, which is called a ‘convoy.’
1851. Coal-tr. Terms Northumbld. & Durh., 10. Brake … a band of iron caused by a lever to press upon a … wheel.
1863. Tyndall, Heat, i. 9. The brake is applied, and smoke and sparks issue from the wheel.
1875. Whitney, Life Lang., viii. 149–50. This would be by itself a powerful brake to check his arbitrary action.
β. 1838. Public Wks. Gt. Brit., 52. That every carriage should be provided with a break.
1839. S. C. Brees, Rail. Pract., Gloss. 287. Break or Convoy to Railway Carriages. a hand lever worked by the breaksman.
1862. Macm. Mag., Oct., 455. This loom is fitted with Sellers’ ‘break’ for stopping the loom.
1870. Huxley, Lay Serm., xi. (1874), 246. To act as a sort of break.
2. Short for ‘brake-van.’
1885. Daily News, 5 Feb., 6/3. One of the suspected men who travelled in the guard’s brake.
3. Comb. and Attrib., as brake-apparatus, -band, -bar, -beam, -block, -power, -rod, -shoe (see quots.); also brake-compartment, brake-van, or simply brake, the compartment or the carriage in a train that contains the brake apparatus; brake-wheel, the wheel by which the brakes are worked.
1885. Daily News, 5 Feb., 6/3. The spare *brake apparatus … in … the last carriage but one…. He saw the man get out of the *break compartment.
1878. F. Williams, Midl. Railw., 557. Lest there should be any deficiency in the *brake power.
1874. Knight, Amer. Mech. Dict., I. 357. *Brake-shoe, that part of a brake which is brought in contact with the object whose motion is to be restrained.
1885. Manch. Exam., 15 May, 5/7. An invention for coupling and uncoupling railway rolling stock direct from the engine or *brake-van.
1864. Times, 30 Dec., 9/3. He was always in the break-van where the line was on an incline, in order to apply the breaks.
1873. B. Stewart, Conserv. Force, ii. § 48. On a dark night sparks are seen to issue from the *break-wheel.
