Brethel

Brethel is an archaic English word, primarily used in the medieval period, meaning "brother." It is a cognate of the modern English word "brother," and is derived from the Old English brōþor.

The term appears in older literature, particularly in texts written between the 12th and 16th centuries. Its usage gradually declined, replaced by "brother" in standard English. While the meaning is straightforward, the word's appearance often lends an archaic or formal tone to writing.

In some contexts, "brethel" could also be used in a broader sense to denote a male sibling, a male member of a religious order (a brother in the monastic sense), or a close male friend, similar to the varied usages of "brother" today. However, the primary and most common meaning is simply a male sibling. The usage of "brethel" is now rare and primarily encountered in historical or literary contexts.