adj. [A. S. brant, bront; Swed. brant; North. E. brant and brent], steep, of hills, etc.; brött brekka, a ‘brent’ hill, Hrafn. 20; bárur, high waves, Sks. 40: metaph., bera bratt halann, metaphor from cattle, to carry the tail high (in mod. usage vera brattr), opp. to lægja halann, to droop the tail, Ísl. ii. 330, cp. Hkv. Hjörv. 20; reynt hefi ek fyr brattara, cp. Lat. graviora passus, I have been in a worse plight, Ann. 56; einatt hefi ek brattara átt, Grett. 133: mér hefir opt boðizt brattara, id., etc.,—a metaphor from mountaineers.