Chiefly dial. Forms: 1, 4 broc, 3–7 brocke, 4–5 brokk(e, 4–6 brok, 6 broke, 3– brock. [OE. broc, from Celtic: in OIr. brocc, Ir. and Gael. broc, Welsh and Cornish broch, Breton broc’h:—OCeltic *broccos, prob. cogn. w. Gr. φορκός grey, white; cf. the Eng. name gray, grey.]

1

  1.  A badger: a name, in later times, associated especially with the epithet stinking.

2

c. 1000.  Sax. Leechd., I. 326. Sum fyþerfete nyten is, þæt nemnað taxonem, þæt ys broc on englisc.

3

c. 1205.  Lay., 12817. Heo hudeden heom alse brockes.

4

1398.  Trevisa, Barth. De P. R. (Helmingham MS.), XII. x. The blak rauen is frende to þe foxe, and þerfore he fyȝteþ with þe brokke.

5

c. 1400.  Ywaine & Gaw., 98. It es ful semeli, als me think, A brok omang men forto stynk.

6

c. 1440.  York Myst., xxix. 117. He lokis like a brokke, Were he in a bande for to bayte.

7

a. 1528.  Skelton, Agst. Garnesche, 55. She seyd your brethe stank lyke a broke.

8

1552.  Huloet, Brocke or badger, or graye beast, taxo.

9

1637.  B. Jonson, Sad Sheph., I. iv. 32. Or with pretence of chasing thence the Brock, Send in a curre to worrie the whole Flock.

10

1786.  Burns, Twa Dogs, 96. They gang as saucy by poor folk, As I wad by a stinking brock.

11

1816.  Scott, Antiq., xxi. ‘I … rub shouthers wi’ a bailie wi’ as little concern as an he were a brock.’

12

1869.  Daily News, 30 July, 5/3. There were many Highland Chieftains in the yard, some wearing their sporans or purses, made of a fox’s head and skin, or that of a brock.

13

  † b.  catachr. confused with the beaver. Obs.

14

1387.  Trevisa, Higden, Rolls Ser. I. 327. White beres, bausons, and brokkes [ursi albi, fibri, et castores]. Ibid., VI. 205. Þat place hatte Beverlay and heet Brook his lay, for many brokkes … come þider out of þe hilles.

15

1483.  Cath. Angl., 44. A Brokk, castor, beuer.

16

1591.  Percivall, Sp. Dict., Bivaro, a badger or brocke, fiber, castor.

17

  2.  A stinking or dirty fellow; one who is given to ‘dirty tricks’; a ‘skunk.’

18

a. 1600.  Peele, Jests, II. 289. This self-conceited brock.

19

1601.  Shaks., Twel. N., II. v. 114. Marrie, hang thee, brocke.

20

1725.  Ramsay, Gentle Sheph., IV. i. Ye’ll gar me stand! ye shevelling-gabbit brock.

21

1880.  Antrim & Down Gloss. (E. D. S.), Brock, a dirty person; one who has a bad smell.

22

  3.  Attrib. and Comb., as brock-breasted, -faced adjs. (referring to the streaked face of the badger); † brock-skin, a badger-skin (in Wyclif app. due to confusion of L. mēles, mēlis, with mēlōta Gr. μηλωτή sheepskin, f. μῆλον); † brock-wool, hair of the beaver (see 1 b.).

23

a. 1400[?].  Morte Arth., 1095. Brok-brestede as a brawne, with brustils fulle large.

24

1824.  Craven Dial., 22. Th’ *brock-faced branded stirk.

25

1382.  Wyclif, Hebr. xi. 37. Thei wenten aboute in *brok skynnes [Vulg. in melotis], and in skynnes of geet.

26

1526.  Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 246 b. Goynge about in gotes & brockes skynnes.

27

1500.  Ort. Voc., in Promp. Parv., 53. Fibrina vestis … a clothe of *brocke woll.

28