Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Broom
Broom
(broōm)
, Noun.
[OE. ]
brom
, brome
, AS. brōm
; akin to LG. bram
, D. brem
, OHG. brāmo
broom, thorn[GREEK]bush, G. brombeere
blackberry. Cf. Bramble
, Noun.
1.
(Bot.)
A plant having twigs suitable for making brooms to sweep with when bound together; esp., the
Cytisus scoparius
of Western Europe, which is a low shrub with long, straight, green, angular branches, minute leaves, and large yellow flowers. No gypsy cowered o’er fires of furze and
broom
. Wordsworth.
2.
An implement for sweeping floors, etc., commonly made of the panicles or tops of broom corn, bound together or attached to a long wooden handle; – so called because originally made of the twigs of the broom.
Butcher's broom
, a plant (
– Ruscus aculeatus
) of the Smilax family, used by butchers for brooms to sweep their blocks; – called also knee holly
. See Cladophyll
. Dyer's broom
, a species of mignonette (
– Reseda luteola
), used for dyeing yellow; dyer's weed; dyer's rocket. Spanish broom
. See under
Spanish
.Webster 1828 Edition
Broom
BROOM
,n.1.
A plant of several species, called dyer's weed, being used by dyers to give a yellow color,dyer's broom, green wood, or wood waxen, dwarf broom, all belonging to the genus Genista. Broom rape is Orobanche, and with large purple flowers, Lathroea.Spanish Broom is a species of Spartium, and Butcher's broom is the Ruscus.
2.
A besom, or brush with a long handle for sweeping floors; so called from being originally made of the broom-plant. In America, brooms are made of the tops of broom-corn, or of some species of wood splintered, chiefly ash. The latter species of broom is furnished by the natives of the country. The original broom, made of shrubs or twigs, is still used in stables.