Brocket

Forms: 5–7 broket, 7 brockett, brochet, 6– brocket. [ad. F. brocart, broquart, f. broque, broche BROACH: see -ARD. Cf. BROCARD².]

  1.  A stag in its second year with its first horns, which are straight and single, like a small dagger. (Sometimes incorrectly a deer in its third year.)

a. 1425.  in Rel. Antiq., I. 151. The hert … the fyrst yere he is a calfe, the secunde yere a broket, the .iij. yere a spayer.

1513.  Douglas, Æneis, XII. Prol. 179. Heyrdis of hertis throw the thyk wod schaw, Baith the brokettis, and with brayd burnyst tyndis.

1611.  Cotgr., Brocart, a two-yeare old Deere; which if he bee a red Deere, we call a Brocket; if a fallow, a Pricket.

1881.  Greener, Gun, 510. To shoot a staggart, brocket, suckling, hind or calf is unwarrantable.

  2.  A genus of deer of Brazil, having only short prongs for horns.

1837.  Penny Cycl., VIII. 361/2. The Brockets (Les Daguets) of the French.

1850.  Swainson, Quadrup., § 301. The brockets of the New World constitute the subulonine group of Major Smith.

  † 3.  Brocket-sister, a female deer of the second (or erron. third) year. Obs.

1625.  in Rushw., Hist. Coll. (1721), III. II. App. 8. A Hind and a Brocket Suster, being then both out of Season.

1677.  N. Cox, Gentl. Recreat., I. (1706), 7. A Hinde … is called … the second year a Hearse; and sometimes we say Brockets Sister.

1696.  Phillips, s.v. Brock.

  4.  dial. See quots. (Probably a distinct word.)

1769.  Pennant, Tour Scotl., 36. Sea-larks, [called] here [Farne Islands] brokets.

1867.  Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., Broket … the sea-lark is so called at the Farne Islands.