from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Broom \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 {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originally made of the twigs of the broom.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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