General
bray
What does bray mean?
To beat or thrash. Originally meant to pound or crush (as in braying something in a mortar), and the Geordie usage kept that flavour — a proper braying is not a slap, it's a hammering. Threat-of-violence currency on Tyneside.
"Say that again and I'll bray ye."
Origin
From Middle English brayen, to crush in a mortar — retained in northern dialects as a word for beating.
Frequently asked questions
What does bray mean in Geordie?
To bray means to hit, beat, or thump someone — Geordie for giving them a hiding.
How do you use bray in a sentence?
"He said he'd bray us if I didn't shut up."
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