Etymology

PGmc *ƀrenk- is not attested in OE, but there is evidence for an ON *brink-, cp. OIcel brekka 'hillside, slope' (cp. Dan brink without consonant cluster assimilation), and MLG brink 'edge of a field, hill'. A Scandinavian source is therefore usually assumed to be more likely, though a borrowing from WGmc (potentially also for Sw brink, see Bj., Hellquist) cannot be ruled out.

PGmc Ancestor

*ƀrenk-

Proposed ON Etymon (OIcel representative)

brekka 'hillside, slope'
(ONP brekka (sb.))

Other Scandinavian Reflexes

Far brekka, Icel brekka, Norw brekka, brekke, Dan brink, Sw dial bräkka, brikka

OE Cognate

Phonological and morphological markers

Summary category

BB2c

Attestation

Common and widespread in ME from c.1300 onwards. It is a common element in Danelaw place-names; some brink- placenames (esp. with -u- spellings in ME), however, may instead be from an OE personal name Brynca (VEPN).

Occurrences in the Gersum Corpus

Cl 384; WA 669, 4377, 4741

Bibliography

MED brinke (n.) , OED brink (n.) , HTOED , Bj. 232, Orel ƀrenkaz, Kroonen, de Vries brekka