Emily Dickinson Lexicon

BRAY, v.t. [Sax. bracan; Fr. broyer, to pound or bruise; braire, to roar, or bray as an ass; Arm. bregui, to roar; Norm. brair, to cry, to brag; Gr. βραχω; W. briwaw, to break in pieces, to rub or grind; breyan, a quern; Ir. bra, a handmill. See Brag and Break.]

1. To pound, beat, or grind small; as, to bray a fool in a mortar. – Prov. xxvii.
2. v. i. To make a harsh sound, as of an ass. – Dryden.
3. To make a harsh, disagreeable grating sound. – Milton.