Obs. exc. dial. Forms: 4 brokele, 5 brokyl(l, -ylle, -el, -il, 6 brokle, brocle. [A parallel form to BRICKLE, BRUCKLE; prob. by later assimilation to brok-en.] Easily broken, fragile; frail.
c. 1315. Shoreham, 3. Of brokele kende is that he deithe.
c. 1325. Metr. Hom., 154. Fleys es brokel als wax, and neys.
c. 1430. Hymns to Virg. (1867), 86. A brokil poot þat freisch is and gay.
1483. Cath. Angl., 44. Brokylle, vbi brysille.
1509. Fisher, Wks., 92. A potte that is brocle.
1552. Huloet, Bryttle, bryckle, or brokle.
1863. Atkinson, Provinc. Danby, Bruckle, brockle, easy to be broken, frail, brittle.
