Obs. exc. dial. Also 7 brimsee, brimesey, 9 dial. brimps. [First found in 16th c.: identical with ON. brims (Fritzner); also Ger. bremse:—OHG. primisa (Graff), brimissa (Kluge), perh. f. brem- to roar, in sense of ‘boom, buzz loudly.’ In Eng. prob. from Norse, though early evidence is wanting.] A gadfly; = BREEZE sb.1
1579. Gosson, Apol. Sch. Abuse (Arb.), 64. They … lashe out their heeles as they had caught the brimse.
1608. Topsell, Serpents, 769. Those great horse-flies or ox-flies and brimsees that in summer season vex cattle.
1610. Guillim, Heraldry, III. xxi. 166. This Flie … of some is called the Gad-bee, and of others the Dun-fly, Brimesey, or Horse-fly.
1611. Cotgr., Tahon, a brizze, Brimsee. Oestre Iunonique, a gad-bee, brimsey, brizze.
Mod. Kent Provinc., The brimps bite the cows so much they don’t know what to do.
