Forms: 4–5 brige, bryge, brygge, brigge, 5 (?) bryke, 7– brigue. [a. F. brigue (14th c. in Littré) = med.L. briga, It. and Pg. briga, Sp. and Pr. brega. Of uncertain origin: see Diez. The word and its derivatives are extensively developed in Italian: see BRIGAND, etc. Adopted in Eng. in the 14–15th c.; then again from modern Fr. about 1700.
† 1. Strife, quarrel, contention. Obs.
[c. 1380. cf. BRIKE.]
c. 1386. Chaucer, Melibeus, ¶ 716. Myne Aduersaries han bigonnen this debaat and bryge [v.r. brige, brigge].
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., Bryge or debate, briga, discensio.
1496. Dives & Paup. (W. de W.), IV. xxiv. 192. Yf they passe ther tyme by retchelesnesse or by bryge, the bysshop shall ordeyne.
1678. Littleton, Lat. Dict., A brigue or quarrel. Lis, contentio [briga].
ǁ 2. Intrigue, faction. [from mod.F.; much used in the first half of the 18th c.] Obs. (exc. casually).
1701. Jura Pop. Anglicani, 29. They must set afoot Factions and Brigues.
1720. Ozell, trans. Vertot’s Rom. Rep., I. III. 171. The Cabals and Brigues of the Patricians.
1752. Hume, Pol. Disc., xii. 296. Sufficient to prevent brigue and faction.
1753. Dial. betw. Swift & Prior, 134. Violent and ill-judg’d Brigues and Feuds.
1867. J. Thomson, L’Anc. Régime, 13. He in recompense got Fierce struggle with brigue and plot.
