A variant spelling of brittle or a type of brittle candy; can also refer to small brick fragments.
From Middle English, possibly related to 'brick' or derived from Old French 'brochet' (something thin and fragile). The etymology is uncertain and the word is archaic.
This word is so obscure that it exists in different meanings in different regions and historical periods—it might mean a candy in one place and brick fragments in another, showing how language can fragment over time and geography.
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