Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- adjective Fine; splendid.
- adjective Dressed in a fine or showy manner.
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun A noisy quarrel; loud, angry contention; and uproar; row; squabble: as, “stout polemick brawl,”
- noun Synonyms Broil, Affray, etc. See
quarrel , n. - Brave; fine; gay; handsome; pleasant; agreeable; worthy; excellent; stout: as, a braw new gown; a braw man; braw lads and bonny lasses.
- One's best apperel; finery.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- adjective Well-dressed; handsome; smart; brave; -- used of persons or their clothing, etc..
- adjective Good; fine.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- adjective brightly colored and showy
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
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Examples
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The thrift o 'you and the woo o' a dog wad mak a braw wab.
The Proverbs of Scotland Alexander Hislop 1836
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He was a kinsman of the author, and a "braw" young Scotchman who came over to this country with the expectation of picking up a fortune in short order.
The Abolitionists Together With Personal Memories Of The Struggle For Human Rights
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He's plenty of money to dress in silk [fu 'braw'],
Queen Mary 1897
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His physique had been what no word interprets so fitly as the Scotch word "braw," -- not huge and unwieldy in size and strength, but manly and comely.
Girlhood and Womanhood The Story of some Fortunes and Misfortunes Sarah Tytler 1870
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It was a braw speech, but damn reckless, for a 'that.
Sick Cycle Carousel 2010
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Lachlain believed he and Emma would have had incredible children—brilliant lasses with her beauty, and braw, wily lads with his temper.
Kresley Cole Immortals After Dark: The Clan MacRieve Kresley Cole 2010
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Hur had awn teh tite-tite blak jeens, ohai heels wif hur toez wif brite fayk toenaylz showin, glittur loshun awn hur skin, a too-tite shurt dat had ‘racerbak’ wif hur blak braw-straps showin, nastee hares, an enuff mayk-upz foar abowt 4 wimmenz.
construktshen wirker - Lolcats 'n' Funny Pictures of Cats - I Can Has Cheezburger? 2010
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Then he gave me a hug and said, 'You're a braw lad, Jamie.
Sick Cycle Carousel 2010
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Hell, it's a braw song and the sentiments are fine and a 'that.
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But not to worry, here's the great Waylon Jennings in barnstorming form to make up for it all and get your sabbath off to a braw and brawlin 'start.
John Terry’s sacking as England captain tells us something interesting... 2009
solitude_stands commented on the word braw
"The air was filled with the smell of hot dogs and the tinny sound of Christmas carols and Bing Crosby roasting chestnuts. I could hear my dad's braw tenor joining in."
Winter by Val McDermid
March 1, 2026