Etymology Inherited from Middle English brom, from Old English brōm (“brushwood”), from Proto-West Germanic *brām (“bramble”) (compare Saterland Frisian Brom, West Frisian brem, Dutch braam, German Low German Braam), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰrem-, from *bʰer- ‘edge’. Related to brim, brink. Replaced English besom (from Old English besma (“broom, rod”)), which is now restricted in meaning to a particular kind of broom. (shotgun): So called because it is (like the cleaning utensil) long and held similarly to a besom and “cleans” what is in front.
1
A domestic utensil with fibers bound together at the end of a long handle, used for sweeping.
Meronyms: broomstick (handle), bavin (head)
'Smuggling was a way of life here, with no stigma attached,' David explained. His own granny used to smuggle out rabbit meat, tied to her body, and bring back such coveted Italian goods as chocolate, coffee and brooms. 'Brooms?' I asked him in disbelief. 'Yes, ordinary sorghum brooms, which were in short supply in Communist Yugoslavia, like many other basic household goods,' he said with a smile.2026 June 24, Vitali Vitaliev, “Life on the borderline”, in RAIL, number 1064, page 68:
2
Ball games, Curling, Games, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Sports An implement with which players sweep the ice to make a stone travel further and curl less; a sweeper.
3
Any of several yellow-flowered shrubs of the family Fabaceae, with long, stiff, thin branches and small or few leaves used for the domestic utensil.
At the same time, the encroachment of vegetation proceeds apace, and broom and brambles have already made portions of the line impassable, even on foot.1949 November and December, “Notes and News: Festiniog and Welsh Highland Railways”, in Railway Magazine, page 408:
4
Especially, of the tribe Genisteae, including genera Cytisus, Genista, and Spartium.
[…] and thy broom groves, Whose shadow the dismissed bachelor loves, Being lass-lorn […]1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i]:
5
Of plants not closely related to those of tribe Genisteae.
So keep talking all that fly shit, and I’ma grab the tool And the lead will get stuck in your head like a catchy tune Soon as I look down on a target, bitch, your ass is doomed Trust exercise with Ahdi, arms out to catch a boom You see this sweeper I got, it ain’t your average broom This ring will wet this bitch like a happy groom2015 September 26, Ms. Hustle (lyricist), Ms. Hustle vs. O’fficial (Summer Madness; 5), Ultimate Rap League, from 48:07–48:28:
I just got the drop, there is an opp OFB step with the broom2017 July 17, OFB (RV, Kash, Lowkey, Headie One, Bradz & Tuggzy), “Loyal”, 2:45–2:47:
4 more examples
He got forced to hold that broom, that dickhead reminds me of Cinderella2019 September 11, Yanko, “Next Up”, in #ACGK, 1:59:
Pull up to the 🎵 get whacked with the broom TT liz on my line, so you know it got moved Distribute, click, click, shoot That's another face on frontline news2020 July 2, “Stop Check”, LR of TPL (lyrics):
Back that strap then blaze, fry man Tell bro “make sure you twos that yute” Rise that stick when the street needs cleaning The pigs know this ain't no average broom2020 July 3, “Lightwork Freestyle”, Y.CB of 7th (lyrics):
If F’s in the room step with the broom finna here a boom with a boom!2020 October 23, “Talk Bout Hollows”, DBF MD (lyrics), 0:30–0:33:
Etymology Inherited from Middle English brom, from Old English brōm (“brushwood”), from Proto-West Germanic *brām (“bramble”) (compare Saterland Frisian Brom, West Frisian brem, Dutch braam, German Low German Braam), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰrem-, from *bʰer- ‘edge’. Related to brim, brink. Replaced English besom (from Old English besma (“broom, rod”)), which is now restricted in meaning to a particular kind of broom. (shotgun): So called because it is (like the cleaning utensil) long and held similarly to a besom and “cleans” what is in front.
1
To sweep with a broom.
[…] Sidi, I was busy in the exercise of my functions, occupied in brooming the front of the stables, when who should come but Hhamed Ould Denéï on horseback, at full gallop, as if he were going to break his neck. […]1855 September 29, Charles Dickens, "Model Officials", in Household Words: A Weekly Journal, Bradbury and Evens (1856), page 206
It was but this morning at eight, when poor Molly, was brooming the steps, and the baker paying her by no means unmerited compliments, that my landlady came whirling out of the ground-floor front, and sent the poor girl whimpering into the kitchen.a. 1857, William Makepeace Thackeray, Our Street, in Christmas Books: Mrs. Perkins's Ball, Our Street, Dr. Birch, Chapman & Hall (1857), Our Street page 8
2 more examples
After that I did take the broom from its place, and I gave the floor a good brooming. I broomed the boards up and down and cross-ways. There was not a speck of dirt on them left.a. 1920, Opal Stanley Whiteley, The Story of Opal: The Journal of an Understanding Heart, Atlantic Monthly Press (1920), pages 58–59
We broomed the dirt floor clean with spruce branches, brought our gear inside, and moved in.1997, Will Hobbs, Far North, HarperCollins, →ISBN, page 100:
2
Business, Construction, Manufacturing, Roofing To improve the embedding of a membrane by using a broom or squeegee to smooth it out and ensure contact with the adhesive under the membrane.
3
Figuratively To get rid of someone, like firing an employee or breaking up with a girlfriend, to sweep another out of one's life.
April 2002 Willem Dafoe as Norman Osborn, speaking to his son Harry, in the film "Spider-Man" A word to the "not-so-wise" about your girlfriend. Do what you need to with her, then broom her fast.
let the employee leave on his own, or the boss must broom him. If you hire, or inherit, able people, and you groom them, you won't have to broom them. Groom, broom, and watch your company zoom.August 2002 Jeffrey J. Fox How to Become a Great Boss: The Rules for Getting and Keeping the Best Employees page 15
1 more example
I still was going to go with Breslin until one day he said to me, "I got a confession to make to you. When my mother died on her deathbed I promised her I'd never drive a car and I still don't know how to drive a car." I figured for this picture you have to drive a car, so I just decided to broom him and go with an actor.2012, George Stevens Jr., Conversations at the American Film Institute with the Great Moviemakers: The Next Generation, page 204: