breef
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
Probably identical with BRIEF, a shortened card used for cheating purposes; thus described in an old book of games of about 1720—
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “breef” mean?
Probably identical with BRIEF, a shortened card used for cheating purposes; thus described in an old book of games of about 1720—
Is “breef” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.