Obs. Also 8 bransel. [a. F. bransle (16th c.), a graphical variant of branle: see BRANLE, also BRANGLE, BRANTLE.]
1. Movement, perturbation. rare. (= BRANGLE sb.1 1, BRANLE sb. 1.)
1603. Florio, Montaigne, III. ix. (1632), 565. Observe the motions and bransles of the Heavens.
2. A kind of dance; also, a song for dance music. (= BRANGLE sb.1 2, BRANLE sb. 2, BRANTLE.)
1596. Spenser, F. Q., III. x. 8. Now making layes of love Bransles, ballads, virelayes.
1597. Morley, Introd. Mus., 181. The bransle de poictou or bransle double is more quick in time but the straine is longer, containing most vsually twelue whole strokes.
1829. Scott, Anne of G., 344. The youthful couple went off to take their place in the bransle.