Etymology

The usual form of this v. in ME is breiden < OE bregdan, but because of the fricative in <breyþed> in Cl 1421, all authorities derive this form instead from the ON cognate, cp. OIcel bregða 'to move swiftly' (< PGmc *ƀregðan-, cp. OFris breida, OHG brettan 'to pull, tug', OS pret. brugdun 'knitted, tied'). This is not a sure test of loan, however, and it is possible, that it instead represents an instance of the spirantization of ME /d/ > /ð/.

PGmc Ancestor

*bregðan-

Proposed ON Etymon (OIcel representative)

bregða 'to move swiftly'
(ONP bregða (vb.))

Other Scandinavian Reflexes

Far bregða, brigða, Icel bregða, Norw bregda, ODan bre(i)de, OSw breghþa

OE Cognate

bregdan 'to move, make a sudden movement, drag, pull, weave, bind, vary etc.'

Phonological and morphological markers

[ON fricative /ð/ < PGmc */ð/] (possibly diagnostic)

Summary category

C2c

Attestation

This is the only instance of a ME breithen; the usual form is breiden < OE bregdan. OED cites further instances from a single 16c. text.

Occurrences in the Gersum Corpus

Cl 1421

Bibliography

MED breithen (v.) , OED braythe, breythe (v.) , HTOED , Bj. 162, de Vries bregða, Mag. bregða, Orel *ƀreʒđanan, Seebold Bregd-a-, DOE bregdan, AEW bregdan