a. Obs. or dial. Forms: 5 brekyl(le, bryckell, 6 bryckel, brickel(l, brykle, bryckle, 6– brickle. [A parallel form to ME. bruchel (ü), pointing to OE. type *brycel, brycl-es (cf. the mod. forms much, mickle, earlier Sc. mekyl, from OE. mycel, mycl-es):—OTeut. *brukilo-, f. pa. pple. stem of brek-an (OE. brecan) to break; cf. the parallel BRITTLE:—OE. brytel:—OTeut. *brutilo- f. pa. pple. stem of bréotan. See also the doublets BRITCHEL, BROCKLE, BRUCKLE.]
1. Liable to break, easily broken; fragile, brittle.
1468. Medulla Gram., Fracticeus, brekyl. Fragilis, freel or brekyl.
1523. Fitzherb., Husb., § 100. The houe before wyll be thycker, and more bryckle.
1534. More, On the Passion, Wks. 1398/2. As a brickell earthen pot in pieces al to frush them.
1591. Spenser, Ruins Time, 499. Th’ Altare … Was built of brickle clay.
1611. Bible, Wisd., xv. 13. This man that of earthly matter maketh brickle vessels.
1663. Gerbier, Counsel, 54. Many Bricks are brickle.
1747. Hooson, Miner’s Dict., E ij b. Where it lies in a Body of considerable thickness, it is more Brickle and Joynty.
1875. Lanc. Gloss. (E. D. S.), Brickle, britchel, fragile, brittle.
2. fig. Frail, weak.
c. 1460. Towneley Myst., 101. The world … is ever in drede and brekylle as glas.
1494. Fabyan, VI. ccxiv. 231. This transetory and bryckell lyfe.
1562. J. Heywood, Prov. & Epigr. (1867), 157. Man is brickell.
1609. Bible (Douay), Ps. lxxxix. Mans life as brickle as a spiders web.
a. 1640. Jackson, Wks. (1844), I. 303. This brickle earthly life.
3. fig. Delicate, ticklish; requiring cautious handling.
1568. Dk. Norfolk, Lett., in H. Campbell, Love-lett. Mary Q. Scots, App. 28. You may see howe farre … I wade in this most brykle cace.
1816. Scott, Old Mort., vii. ‘How I am to fend for ye now in thae brickle times.’
