v. Obs. Forms: 1 brytnian, 3 briten, 3–4 britten, 4 britton, bryttyn(e, bretten, -on, bryton, brutten, (also pa. t. and pple. brittnet, britned, -et, brutned), 4–5 brittun, -yn, 5 brytten, (brytn-is, britn-is, britynn-it), Sc. bertyn (bertn-it), bartyn (bartn-it). [OE. brytnian:—OTeut. *brutjinôn, f. *brutjon-, in OE. brytta distributor, dispenser, f. stem brut- of *breutan to break, divide: cf. BRITTLE.]
1. trans. To distribute, dispense. (Only in OE.)
a. 1000. Beowulf, 4756. Þara ðe in Swio-rice sinc brytnade.
2. To divide.
c. 1200. Ormin, 14178. Þiss werelld … iss dæledd and brittnedd onntill daless þre.
3. To cut or hew in pieces; to kill, slay, butcher.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 8720. God it wit-schild Þat þou britten [v.r. briten, brettyn] sua mi child.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 1073. Þe douȝti duk … bet adoun burwes, & brutned moche peple.
a. 1400[?]. Morte Arth., 106. He salle … Bryne Bretayne þe brade, and bryttyne thy knyghtys. Ibid., 1487. With brandes of broune stele they brettened maylez.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 1971. Drawen as a dog & to dethe broght: Brittonet þi body into bare qwarters.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, III. 400. Sothroune men yat bertynit war to deide.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, II. 114. Cruell Pyrrus, Quhilk brytnys the son befor the faderis face.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot., I. 334. Tha bertynd hir, baith bodie, bane and blude.
b. Hunting. To cut up or ‘break’ (a boar or deer); cf. BRITTLE v.
c. 1340. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 1339. Siþen britned þay þe brest, & brayden hit in twynne.
c. 1420. Avow. Arth., xvii. Sethun brittuns he the best, As venesun in forest.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot., II. 192. Quhen he wes bertnit to gif the houndis blude. Ibid., 431. Tha bar[t]nit thame lyke ony bludie deir.
