brotelness

Middle English

Noun

brotelness

1. brittleness
   • late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Merchant's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 1279-1280:

     [...] On brotel ground they builde, and brotelnesse
     They finde, whan they wene sikernesse.

     [...] On brittle ground they build, and insecurity
     They find when they expect security.