Obs. Also 5 brochage, 6 broc-, brok-, broakadge, 6–7 broakage, brokeage. [In Afr. brocage, also brogage, in same sense: see BROKER.]
The following meanings are given in dictionaries, or indicated in some of the quotations: in many of the latter the exact sense cannot be fixed, so that they are not here separated. In most cases the word has an ill favor, cf. ‘jobbery.’
1. a. The trade of a broker; the transaction of commercial business, as buying and selling, for other men. b. The premium or commission of a broker, BROKERAGE; the gain or profit derived from acting as agent, middleman, or intermediary. c. The corrupt farming or jobbing of offices; the price or bribe paid unlawfully for any office or place of trust; frequently mentioned as an abuse in early times. d. Trafficking in match-making, in the marriage of wards, etc. e. Procuracy in immorality, pimping. f. ‘The trade of dealing in old things, the trade of a broker’ (J.).
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XIV. 267. A mayden þat is maried þorw brokage … bi assent of sondry partyes and syluer to bote.
c. 1383. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 280. Symonyentis in beneficis … bi brocage maade to mene persones for to haue ony beneficis of þe chirche.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Milleres T., 189. He woweth hire by meenes and brocage.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. III. 92. Vserye and Auerice, and oþer false sleithes In bargeyns and in brocages.
c. 1440. Rom. Rose, 6973. I entremet me of brocages, I make peace and mariages.
1456. in Rel. Ant., II. 239. Now brocage ys made offycerys, And baratur ys made bayly.
c. 1460. Fortescue, Abs. & Lim. Mon., xiv. (1885), 144. Nor thai [Suytours] shall be importunite or brocage optayne any vnresonable desires.
1555. Fardle Facions, I. v. 50. Their women in old tyme, had all the trade of occupiying, and brokage abrode.
1584. Whetstone, Mirror for Mag., 31. An other sort by brocadge bringeth him in debt.
1577. Hellowes, Gueuara’s Ep., 125. To ryse to it by brokage or corruption.
1579. Spenser, Sheph. Cal., Ded. It served well Pandares purpose for the bolstering of his bawdie brocage. Ibid. (1591), M. Hubberd, 851. Shameles flatterie, And filthie brocage, and unseemly shifts.
1600. Rowlands, Lett. Humours Blood, II. 55. Vserie sure is requisite and good, And so is Brokeage, rightly vnderstood.
1603. Florio, Montaigne, III. v. (1632), 489. By the brokage or panderizing of the lawes.
1611. Beaum. & Fl., Philaster, V. iii. If a man had need to use their valours, he must pay a brokage for it.
1615. G. Sandys, Trav., 148. Their occupations, brocage and vsury.
1618. Barnevelt’s Apol., C iv b. Our last borrowed money is at 16, and three in the hundreth for brokeage.
a. 1618. Sylvester, St. Lewis, 448. That after-Judges … From Bribes and Brokeage might be warned fair.
1623. Favine, Theat. Hon., VII. i. 198. By the base brokage and close contriuing of the Queene.
1644. Bulwer, Chirol., 4. Without the crafty Brocage of the Tongue.
1648. C. Walker, Hist. & Pol. Relat., 11. The Parliament payes 30000l. Broakage.
1656. J. Harrington, Oceana (1700), 110. Find better preferments without his Brocage.
a. 1680. Butler, Rem. (1759), I. 428. Though the Crown is forced to pawn all its own Jewels to them for mere Brokage.
1683. D. Smith, Constantinople, in Misc. Cur. (1708), III. 38. They [Jews] are of great use and service to the Turks, upon accompt of their Brocage and Merchandise.
1755. Carte, Hist. Eng., IV. 78. Not a fitting thing for a clergyman to be concerned in a brocage of such a nature.
2. Comb., as brokage-money.
1591. Percivall, Sp. Dict., Corretage, broakage money.
