Also 6 braller, brauler, Sc. brallar. [f. BRAWL v.1 + -ER1.]
1. One engaged in or given to brawls; a quarrelsome, wrangling fellow; a breaker of the peace.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XVI. 43. Bakbiteres breke-cheste brawleres and chideres.
1387. Trevisa, Higden, Rolls Ser. IV. 209. I-slawe with swerdes of comoun contakkours [or brawlers, gladiatorum].
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 48. Brawlere, litigator.
a. 1593. H. Smith, Wks., II. (1867), 253. If they be dicers, swearers, drunkards, brawlers.
1735. Oldys, Life Ralegh, Wks. 1829, I. 360, note. Thou shalt be in as much danger in contending with a brawler in a private quarrel, as in a battle.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., IV. 654. A tavern brawler … swaggering drunk about the streets.
2. A noisy contentious talker.
c. 1510. J. Inglis, Gen. Satyre, ix. Sic brallaris and bosteris, degenerait fra their natures.
1581. J. Bell, Haddon’s Answ. Osor., 2. This prattling brawler hath framed a long discourse.
1692. Washington, trans. Milton’s Def. Pop., xii. (1851), 246. That Clause in the Coronation Oath, which such a brazen-fac’d Brawler as you call fictitious.
1713. Bp. Gibson, Art. Visitation, in Toulm. Smith, Parish (1857), 94. Is he a brabler, brauler, contentious, seditious party?
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., II. V. v. 65. A blustering Effervescence, of brawlers and spouters.
