v. arch. Forms: 5 broudre, 5–6 browdre, browder, brouder, broder, 6 brauder, 6–7 brodre, 6 brodur, brother, 7 broidre, 7– broider. [In 15th c. broudre, brouder, taken as the equivalent of F. brode-r, brouder; ‘to stitch, embroider’ (of which the regular Eng. repr. was broude, BROWD). It is not clear whether the terminal -er represents the F. infinitive (as in render, tender, etc.), or had some other origin. The typical forms during the 16th c. were browder and broder; broider (exc. as implied in BROIDERER q.v.) is found only later; its oi is evidently due to the association with BROID ‘to braid,’ so common in the 16th c.]

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  1.  trans. To ornament with needle-work; to work in needlework upon cloth; to embroider. (Almost always in pa. pple.)

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[1405.  Test. Ebor. (1836), I. 320. Unum vestimentum … brodatum de coronis et stellis auri. Ibid. broudatum de stellis albis.]

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c. 1450.  Henryson, Mor. Fabl., 45. His hude of scarlet browdered well with silke.

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1455.  Test. Ebor. (1855), II. 201. Unum lectum de sago browdered.

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1513.  Bradshaw, St. Werburgh, I. xvi. Theyr noble actes … Freshly were browdred in these clothes royall.

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1549.  Compl. Scot., vii. 69. On the third part of that mantil … brodrut about al hyr tail, al sortis of cattel.

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1552.  Inv. Ch. Goods, in Norfolk Archæol. (1865), VII. 58. Twoo tunycles of redde velvet brodred wt aungells.

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1825.  Scott, Talism., xvii. Another broidered with her own hand.

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1879.  Seguin, Black For., viii. 120. She broidered the banners that were to carry her lover to glory.

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  2.  transf. and fig. To adorn as with embroidery, to inlay with (pearl, ivory, gold, etc.). Also fig.

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1509.  Hawes, Past. Pleas., XXVII. xxxi. 125. The pillers of yvery … With perles sette and broudred many a folde.

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c. 1532.  Ld. Berners, Huon (1883), 413. A basyn of golde broderyd with perles.

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1536.  Regist. Riches, in Antiq. Sarisb. (1771), 189. One fair chest … broidered with Coral.

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1606.  Sir G. Goosecappe, IV. ii. in Bullen, O. Pl. (1884), IV. 64. Brodred with nothing but moone-shine ith water.

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1667.  Milton, P. L., IV. 702. The … Hyacinth with rich inlay Broiderd the ground.

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1820.  Scott, Monast., xxix. Her converse would be broidered with … choice pearls of compliment.

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1822.  S. Rogers, Italy, Interview, 33. A narrow glade unfolded, such as Spring Broiders with flowers.

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