GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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Found 2 definitions

1.       
   Broom (bro͞om), n. [OE. brom, brome, AS. brōm; akin to LG. bram, D. brem, OHG. brāmo broom, thornbush, G. brombeere blackberry. Cf. Bramble, n.]
   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.
   
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   No gypsy cowered o'er fires of furze and broom. Wordsworth.
   
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   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made of the panicles or tops of broom corn, bound together or attached to a long wooden handle; -- so called because originally made of the twigs of the broom.
   
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   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.
   
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2.       
   Broom, v. t. (Naut.) See Bream.
   
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