a. Also 6 brainsless. [f. BRAIN sb. + -LESS.]

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  1.  Devoid of brain; that has had the brain removed, ‘pithed.’

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c. 1440.  Promp. Parv., 47. Braynles, incerebrosus.

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1547.  Life 70 Abps. Canterbury, To Rdr. A very charnell howse off brainslesse unlearned skulles.

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1611.  Speed, Hist. Gt. Brit., VII. xxxvi. (1632), 389. A brainlesse body.

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1875.  H. Wood, Therap. (1879), 196. The experiments on brainless frogs.

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  2.  † a. Insane, mentally diseased, imbecile. Obs.

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1496.  Dives & Paup. (W. de W.), V. xxiv. 230. Yf the prynce be … frentyke or braynles.

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c. 1500.  Blowbol’s Test., in Halliwell, Nugæ Poeticæ, 9. Braynles as a Marshe hare.

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1625.  trans. Gonsalvio’s Sp. Inquis., 164. Some caught vncurable diseases and paines in the head, and became almost brainlesse.

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  b.  Foolish, irrational; wanting intelligence, thought or self-control.

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c. 1470.  Hors, Shepe, & G. (1822), 21. As souldyours that braynles be & wood.

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1575.  Churchyard, Chippes (1817), 127. George Carey, I haue receyved your braynlesse letter.

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1797.  Coleridge, Poems (1862), 36. The apostate by the brainless rout adored.

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1863.  Cornh. Mag., Feb. Life Man-of-War, 180. To what shifts a brainless man is put about.

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  Hence Brainlessly adv., Brainlessness.

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1610.  Healey, St. Aug. Citie of God, VI. vi. (1620), 232. I think no man so brainelessly sottish.

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1884.  T. A. Janvier, in Century Mag., Nov., 59/1. A good deal of hard swearing at his general brainlessness.

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