Obs. Also 6 brase. [prob. a use of BRACE v.1 (see esp. sense 5): but cf. also OF. braçoier to swing the arms about (as a sign of pride; cf. quot. in Godef. ‘Orgueus va des bras brachoiant, Des espaules espauloiant’).] To bluster, domineer; to assume a defiant attitude; chiefly in phrase to face and brace.
1447–8. Shillingford, Lett. (1871), 23. He can … braule, bragge and brace, lye and swere well to.
a. 1529. Skelton, Agst. Scottes, 33. Such boste make To face and brace All voyd of Grace.
1549. Latimer, Serm. bef. Edw. VI. (Arb.), 152. Men … woulde face it and brace it and make a shewe of vpryght dealynge.
a. 1563. Becon, Fortr. Faithf. (1844), 599. They gripe, they nip, they face, they brase, they semble … to maintain and set forth their unnoble nobility.
