Forms: 4–7 bragg-, bragat, -et(t, 4–9 bragg-, bragot(te, 4–7 braket, 6 brogat, 8–9 bracket, 6–bragget; 9 (Sc.) bragwort, bregwort. [a. Welsh bragawd, earlier bracaut = Ir. bracát:—Celtic brăcāta, f. the OCeltic word given by Pliny and Columella, in the acc. bracem, as the Gaulish name of a kind of grain, whence Welsh brag, OIr. brac, mod.Ir. braich malt. The forms brackwoort, bragwort, bregwort indicate an association with WORT2; a late Sc. form is bragwud; see also BRAGOES.]
A drink made of honey and ale fermented together; latterly the honey has been replaced by sugar and spice. Also attrib. in Braggot Sunday. See also BRACKWOORT.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Milleres T., 75. Hir mouth was sweete as bragot [v.r. braket] or the Meeth.
c. 1420. Pallad. on Husb., III. 812. In bragot then or wyne or meeth hem kepe.
1586. Cogan, Haven Health, ccxxxviii. (1636), 267. To make Bragget. Take three or foure galons of good Ale or more.
c. 1618. Fletcher, Woman’s Prize, III. ii. Out upon her, How she turned down the Bragget!
1727. Bradley, Fam. Dict., Bragget, a Drink made with Honey and Spice.
1802. Sibbald, Chiron. Scot. Poetry, Gloss. (Jam.), Bragwort, mead, a beverage made from the dregs of honey.
1821. Blackw. Mag., Jan., 405 (Jam.). The Scottish bregwort, or mead, so plentiful at a harvest supper.
1841. Gresley, For. Arden, 107. Bracket, a preparation of ale with honey.
1872. Hardwick, Trad. Lanc., 78. Mid Lent Sunday is likewise called Braggat or Braggot Sunday, from the custom of drinking ‘mulled’ or spiced ale on that day.
