Crookes, Dyeing and Calico-Printing, p

309. bran2 (bran), n. [E. dial.; origin unknown.] A name of the common crow, Corvus corone. Macgillivray. [Local, British.] bran3 (bran), v. burn1 . A dialectal form of bren , bran-bread (bran'bred'), n. [ branbred .] Bread made of bran, or of unbolted flour. branct, n. [OF. branc ; cf. F. branche , branch: see branch .] A linen vestment similar to a rochet, formerly worn by women over their other clothing. brancard (brang'kärd), n. [F., a litter, shaft, thill, Pr. branc , F. branche , branch, arm.] A horse-litter. Lady M. W. Montagu. branch (branch), n. and a. [Early mod. E. also braunch; branche , braunche , bronc he, , F. branche , branch, = Pr. branca , also branc , = OSp. and OPg. branca = It. branca , branch, claw, = Wall. brăncă , hand, fore foot (> G. branke , dial. pranke , claw, pranke , brante , prante , a paw, esp. of a bear), branca , claw; perhaps of Celtic origin: cf. Bret. branc , an arm, = W. braich , an arm, a branch, = L. brachium, bracchium , arm, branch, claw: see brace1, n.] I. n. 1. A division or subdivision of the stem or axis of a tree, shrub, or other plant (the ultimate or smaller ramifications being called branchlets, twigs, or shoots); a bough. A great elm tree spread its broad branches over it. Irving , Sketch-Book, p. 427. 2. Something resembling a branch in its relation to the trunk; an offshoot or part extending from the main body of a thing; a ramification; a subdivision; an outgrowth. Withouten braunch of vyce in ony wyse, In trout he alwey to don yow my servyse. Chaucer , Troilus, iii. 133. Specifically-(a) Any member or part of a body or system; a department; a section or subdivision: as, a branch of a society; the various branches of learning.