broom

broom
broom O.E. brom "broom, brushwood," the common flowering shrub whose twigs were tied together to make a tool for sweeping, from P.Gmc. *bræmaz "thorny bush" (Cf. Du. braam, Ger. Brombeere "blackberry"), from PIE root *bh(e)rem- "to project, a point." Both the flowers and sweeping with broom twigs were traditionally considered unlucky in May (Suffolk, Sussex, Wiltshire, etc.). The witch's flying broomstick was originally one among many such objects (pitchfork, trough, bowl), but the broomstick became fixed as the popular tool of supernatural flight via engravings from a famous Lancashire witch trial of 1612.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Broom — ist der Familienname folgender Personen: Bobby Broom (*1961), US amerikanischer Jazzgitarrist und Musikpädagoge Jacob Broom (1752–1810), US amerikanischer Politiker Jacob Broom (1808–1864), US amerikanischer Politiker James M. Broom (1776–1850),… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Broom — (br[=oo]m), n. [OE. brom, brome, AS. br[=o]m; akin to LG. bram, D. brem, OHG. br[=a]mo broom, thorn?bush, G. brombeere blackberry. Cf. {Bramble}, n.] 1. (Bot.) A plant having twigs suitable for making brooms to sweep with when bound together; esp …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • BROOM — BROOM, the biblical rotem (Ar. ratam), the wild shrub Retam roetam, widespread in the deserts of Israel and in sandy regions. It produces a few leaves in the winter, which it sheds in the summer, its green stalks filling the function of the… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • broom — broom; broom·ie; broom·ing; broom·rape; broom·stick; …   English syllables

  • broom|y — «BROO mee», adjective. 1. covered with or abounding in broom. 2. of a broom or besom. 3. like broom or a broom …   Useful english dictionary

  • broom — brüm, bru̇m n any of various leguminous shrubs (esp. genera Cytisus and Genista) with long slender branches, upright growth, small leaves, and usu. showy yellow flowers esp SCOTCH BROOM see BROOM TOP * * * (br m) any of various s …   Medical dictionary

  • broom — [bru:m, brum] n ↑broom [: Old English; Origin: brom broom plant ;] [Sense: 1; Origin: because broom branches were used for making brushes] 1.) a large brush with a long handle, used for sweeping floors 2.) [U] a large bush with small yellow… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • broom — [bro͞om, broom] n. [ME & OE brom, brushwood < IE base * bh(e)rem , to project, a point > BERM, BRAMBLE] 1. any of a group of flowering shrubs (esp. genera Cytisus, Genista, and Spartium) of the pea family, often grown for their abundant,… …   English World dictionary

  • broom — ► NOUN 1) a long handled brush used for sweeping. 2) a shrub with many yellow flowers and small or few leaves. ● a new broom sweeps clean Cf. ↑a new broom sweeps clean ORIGIN Old English, related to BRAMBLE(Cf. ↑ …   English terms dictionary

  • Broom — Broom, v. t. (Naut.) See {Bream}. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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