Emily Dickinson Lexicon

BRISK, a. [This word may be of the same family with frisk and fresh, which see. W. brysg, from brys, quick; brysiaw, to hasten, coinciding with press; from W. rhys, a rushing. See Rush.]

1. Lively; active; nimble; gay; sprightly, vivacious; applied to animals; as, a brisk young man; a brisk horse.
2. Full of spirit or life; effervescing, as liquors; as, brisk cider.
3. Lively; burning freely; as, a brisk fire.