brewis

American  

[broo-is, brooz] / ˈbru ɪs, bruz /

noun

Newfoundland.

1. hard bread soaked in water and then boiled.

2. such bread, with pieces of fish added, served as a meal.

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brewis British  

/ ˈbruːɪs, ˈbrɛvɪs /

noun

1. bread soaked in broth, gravy, etc

2. thickened broth

3. a Newfoundland stew of cod or pork, hardtack, and potatoes

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Etymology

Origin of brewis

First recorded in 1520–30; earlier brewz, brewes, apparently blend of bree “broth, juice” ( Middle English bre, unattested Old English brēo, variant of brīw; cf. brei) and browes, Middle English broys “broth, soup,” Old French broez (nominative), broet (accusative), equivalent to bro (from Old High German brod broth ) + -et -et

Example Sentences

When day, peeping in the east, made the sky turn from black to red like a boiling lobster, he waked us again to take a dish of monastical brewis.

From Gargantua and Pantagruel, Illustrated, Book 5 by Motteux, Peter Anthony

But if you come, I will provide for thee a piece of beef and brewis knuckle-deep in fat.

From A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 7 by Various

Spread those that are not eaten, and let them dry, to be pounded for puddings, or soaked for brewis.

From The American Frugal Housewife by Child, Lydia Maria Francis

I was in better case after what had to serve as a morning toilet, as Mrs. Rykeman had promised to make up for a scanty supper by a treat of good hot brewis.

From My Friends at Brook Farm by Sears, John Van Der Zee

But he is to be forgiven, surely; for he wished most earnestly that he might eat brewis and live—just as you and I might have done.

From Every Man for Himself by Duncan, Norman