n.
a. [ OE. britel, brutel, AS. bryttian to dispense, fr. breótan to break; akin to Icel. brytja, Sw. bryta, Dan. bryde. Cf. Brickle. ] Easily broken; apt to break; fragile; not tough or tenacious. [ 1913 Webster ]
Farewell, thou pretty, brittle piece
Of fine-cut crystal. Cotton. [ 1913 Webster ]
Brittle silver ore,
n.
adv. In a brittle manner. Sherwood. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. Aptness to break; fragility. [ 1913 Webster ]
(Zool.) Any species of ophiuran starfishes. See Ophiuroidea. [ 1913 Webster ]