1. Sc. The fore part of anything.
c. 1470. Henry the Minstrel, Wallace, VII. 1189. At the forbreist thai prewit hardely.
1825–80. Jamieson, Fore-breast … as the fore-breast o’ the laft, the front-seat of the gallery in a church.
1871. W. Alexander, Johnny Gibb, i. 14. Johnny Gibb stopped Jess, got the whole ‘hypothec’ into the cart; and then, mounting the fore-breast himself, started again, fairly under way for the Wells.
attrib. 1513. Douglas, Æneis, XI. xv. 19.
| Was hys rych mantill, of quham the forbreist lappis, | |
| Ratling of brycht gold wire, wyth gyltin trappys. |
2. Mining. (See quot.) = FORFIELD.
1747. Hooson, Miner’s Dict., Forebrest, Forfield or Forehead. Those are all the same but the most Antient Name amongst the Old Miners is Forfield; and it is always that Quantity of Wholes which he takes in his compass before him, as he cuts his way be it more or less.
1880. C. C. Adlev, in Rep. Pioneer Mining Co., 2 Oct., 1. The rock in the forebreast of the level has become very hard.
