Chapter Bread to Brevet Rank of B by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Breakers Ahead Hidden danger at hand. Breakers in the open sea always announce sunken rocks, sandbanks, etc.

Breaking a Stick Part of the marriage ceremony of the American Indians, as breaking a wine-glass is part of the marriage ceremony of the Jews. (Lady Augusta Hamilton. Marriage Rites, etc., 292, 298.)
   In one of Raphael's pictures we see an unsuccessful suitor of the Virgin Mary breaking his stick. This alludes to the legend that the several suitors were each to bring an almond stick, which was to be laid up in the sanctuary over-night, and the owner of the stick which budded was to be accounted the suitor which God approved of. It was thus that Joseph became the husband of Mary. (Pseudo-Matthew's Gospel, 40, 41.)
   In Florence is a picture in which the rejected suitors break their sticks on Joseph's back.

Breast To make a clean breast of it. To make a full confession; concealing nothing.

Breath All in a breath. Without taking breath. (Latin, continenti spiritu.)
   It takes away one's breath. The news is so astounding it causes one to hold his breath with surprise.
   Out of breath. Panting from exertion; temporarily short of breath.
   Save your breath to cool your porridge. Don't talk to me, it is only wasting your breath.

“You might have saved your breath to cool your porridge.”- Mrs. Gaskell: Libbie Marsh (Era 111).

   To catch one's breath. To check suddenly the free act of breathing.

“ `I see her,' replied I, catching my breath with joy.”- Capt. Marryat: Peter Simple.

   To hold one's breath. Voluntarily to cease breathing for a time.
   To take breath. To cease for a little time from some exertion in order to recover from exhaustion of breath.
   Under one's breath. In a whisper or undertone of voice.

Breathe To breathe one's last. To die.

Breche de Roland A deep defile in the crest of the Pyrenees, some three hundred feet in width, between two precipitous rocks. The legend is that Roland, the paladin, cleft the rock in two with his sword Durandal, when he was set upon by the Gascons at Roncesvalles.

“Then would I seek the Pyrenean breach
Which Roland clove with huge two-handed sway.”
Wordsworth.

Breeches To wear the breeches. Said of a woman who usurps the prerogative of her husband. Similar to The grey mare is the better horse. (See Grey. )
   The phrase is common to the French, Dutch, Germans, etc., as Elle porte les braies. Die vrouw die hosen anhaben. Sie hat die Hösen.

Breeches Bible (See Bible. )

Breeze House-sweepings, as fluff, dust, ashes, and so on, thrown as refuse into the dust-bin. We generally limit the meaning now to small ashes and cinders used for coals in burning bricks. The word is a corruption of the French, débris (rubbish, or rather the part broken or rubbed off by wear, tear, and stress of weather). The French, braise, older form brese, means small coke or charcoal.
   The Breeze-fly. The gad-fly; so called from its sting. (Anglo-Saxon, briose; Gothic, bry, a sting.)

Breeze A gentle wind or gale. (French, brise, a breeze.) Figuratively, a slight quarrel.

Breidablik [wide-shining ]. The palace of Baldur, which stood in the Milky Way. (Scandinavian mythology.)

Brennus A Latin form of the Kymric word Brenhin (a war-chief). In times of danger the Druids appointed a brenn to lead the confederate tribes to battle.

Brent Without a wrinkle. Burns says of John Anderson, in his prime of life, his “locks were like the raven,” and his “bonnie brow was brent” (without a wrinkle).