brusle

Verb

brusle (third-person singular simple present brusles, present participle brusling, simple past and past participle brusled)

1. (obsolete, transitive, often with up (brusle up)) To cause (something) to bristle or stand erect.
   • […] for queſtionleſſe ſhe fayneth herſelfe to bee diſtracted for no other ende, but to enioy eaſie and good daies, who in this point diſcouereth herſelfe; for ſometimes ſhee will goe into the hen-loft, and get her into the corner where the hen ſittes, crying, co co co, to ſhew like an hen that ſhe...1600, Tommaso Garzoni, “A diſcourſe of the Author, […]”, in The Hospitall of Incvrable Fooles: […], […] Edm. Bollifant, for Edward Blount, page 150
   • In the interim, Ruthwen conſults with the Earle Gowrie his brother, and according to the Latine ° proverbe , the aſpe ſuckes poyſon from the viper, wherewith he ſwelleth , and bruſling up himſelfe, flies at his Majeſtie the ſecond time to ſting him to death , and wrapping about him , begins to bind...1636, Daniel Featley, “The Traitors Guerdon. […]”, in Clavis Mystica: A Key Opening Divers Difficult and Mysterious Texts of Holy Scripture, […], London: […] R. r. for Nicolas Bourne, […], page 65
2. (intransitive, obsolete) To bristle; to brustle; to react with fierceness, fear, suspicion, distance, or defiance.
   • For however the feebleneſſe and paucity of leſſer Sects and Factions in Religion in ſome places, their mutuall Diviſions and inteſtine Quarrels in others (being like the Birds called Ruffs, ever bruſling and pecking againſt each other) may make them ſeem at preſent not ſo dangerous or pernicious...1659, John Gauden, chapter XXIX, in The Tears,Sighs,Complaints, and Prayers of the Church of England: […], London: […] J. G. for R. Royston, […], page 370