Now chiefly in U.S. [perh. onomatopœic; ? influenced by break and rash.] Fragile, brittle: used chiefly of timber.
1566. Drant, Wail. Hierim., K viij. Their cracklinge hydes, britle and brashe as dryed barke of tree.
c. 1850. Nat. Encycl., I. 618. Brash, [Americanism] for brittle.
1860. Merc. Mar. Mag., VII. 168. A species of oak, very brash when newly cut.
1860. Bartlett, Dict. Amer., Brash, Brittle. In New England … used … of wood or timber that is brittle.
