"Brayde"

[copippin]

Does anyone know the meainig of the word Brayde, it appears in the christmas carol Sir Christemas which is in book2 of Carols for Choirs.In context,it is as follows"in an ox stall he is laid,wherefore sing we at a brayde". The words are anon.and dated around 1500.

I have looked in all sorts of dictionary's but no luck so far.

[kempie]

I had to negotiate my way through a lot of Chaucer to find this link.

at a brayde - in a moment; quick movement.

[Lore]

I read earlier on today that the word brayde related to land or buildings belonging to the church......written in this link
http://www.gavuzzo-gavuzzi.it/Chapter%202.htm

[kempie]

Lore - the Longobard (cf. Lombard, N&W Italy) word brayde (brayda, braida), also used as a family name and thus the placename Bra, appears to be a corruption of the Latin praedium, estate or landed property.

[copippin]

Thanks Kempie for your diligence in ploughing through Chaucer,what a star! Ay least it will make a bit more sense now when we have to sing the carol.