brief

n. [ See Brief, a., and cf. Breve. ] 1. A short concise writing or letter; a statement in few words. [ 1913 Webster ]

Bear this sealed brief,
With winged hastle, to the lord marshal. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

And she told me
In a sweet, verbal brief. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An epitome. [ 1913 Webster ]

Each woman is a brief of womankind. Overbury. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Law) An abridgment or concise statement of a client's case, made out for the instruction of counsel in a trial at law. This word is applied also to a statement of the heads or points of a law argument. [ 1913 Webster ]

It was not without some reference to it that I perused many a brief. Sir J. Stephen. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In England, the brief is prepared by the attorney; in the United States, counsel generally make up their own briefs. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Law) A writ; a breve. See Breve, n., 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Scots Law) A writ issuing from the chancery, directed to any judge ordinary, commanding and authorizing that judge to call a jury to inquire into the case, and upon their verdict to pronounce sentence. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. A letter patent, from proper authority, authorizing a collection or charitable contribution of money in churches, for any public or private purpose. [ Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

7. pl. a type of men's underpants without legs, fitting tightly and held by an elastic waistband; also called Jockey shorts. [ PJC ]

Apostolical brief, a letter of the pope written on fine parchment in modern characters, subscribed by the secretary of briefs, dated “a die Nativitatis, ” i. e., “from the day of the Nativity, ” and sealed with the ring of the fisherman. It differs from a bull, in its parchment, written character, date, and seal. See Bull. --
Brief of title, an abstract or abridgment of all the deeds and other papers constituting the chain of title to any real estate. --
In brief, in a few words; in short; briefly. “Open the matter in brief.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]