E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Brut.
A rhyming chronicle, as the Brut d’Angleterre and Le Roman de Brut, by Wace (twelfth century). Brut is the Romance word bruit (a rumour, hence a tradition, or a chronicle based on tradition). It is by mere accident that the word resembles “Brute” or “Brutus,” the traditional king. (See next column.)
