Obs. [repr. OE. *briéþel:—OTeut. *brauþilo-z, f. *brauþu- (OE. bréaþ brittle, Leechd., I. 260); f. stem of prec. vb.: cf. BROTHEL.] A worthless fellow, good-for-nothing, wretch.
c. 1440. York Myst., xxvi. 179. Say, brothell, I bidde þe abide.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 50. Breþel [printed breyel], brollus.
1469. Marg. Paston, in Lett., 617, II. 365. We haue lost of her but a brethele and set yt the les to hart.
c. 1547. Bale, Sel. Wks. (1849), 244. Old superstitious bawds and brethels.
