noun

Etymology: ME; prob. taken as sing. of bracken

noun

1. a toothed implement for beating or crushing flax or hemp so that the fiber can be separated
2. a heavy harrow for breaking up clods of earth
3. a handle or lever on a machine a pump brake
4. a machine for turning or bending the edges of sheet metal
5. 1. any device for slowing or stopping the motion of a vehicle or machine, as by causing a block, shoe, or band to press against a moving part
   2. anything that slows down or stops motion or progress
6. Obsolete the rack, former instrument of torture

Etymology: ME < MLowG brake or ODu braeke, flax brake < breken, to break; senses 2-6 variously infl. by OFr brac (form of bras, an arm) & break

transitive verb braked, braking brak′·ing

1. to break up (flax, clods of earth, etc.) into smaller pieces
2. to slow down or stop with or as with a brake

intransitive verb

1. ☆ to operate a brake or brakes
2. to be slowed down or stopped by a brake

noun

Etymology: < or akin to MLowG brake, stumps, broken branches, akin to OE brecan, to break

transitive verb, intransitive verb