besom
1
9.9
- noun
- /ˈbɛzəm/
- Archaic
:
escoba
- 23: I will also make it a possession for the bittern, and pools of water; and I will sweep it with the besom of destruction, saith the LORD of hosts.
Examples
-
Set your besom by the door, pull up a toadstool, and rest a spell by my hearth.
Blog text (28) -
"Christ, she's drunk as an auld besom in a bothy," said a voice in my ear.
Fiction book (1991) -
You're late for your soup, you wee besom.
-
Besom: "broom; bad-tempered woman" (common to all the West Germanic languages; cf. German Besen)
Blog text (30) -
In the old cottage, a traditional besom leaned against the wall, ready for the morning cleaning.
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During the fair, the vendor sold beautiful besoms handcrafted from local twigs and branches.
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The witch swept the floor with her worn besom, the twigs rustling softly as she cleaned.
Synonyms
11
2.0
A long stick with a brush at one end used for sweeping and for flying in stories about witches
1
9.1
A broom that witches in stories ride to fly through the air
A simple broom made from dried stalks that people use to sweep floors or outdoor areas
How Effective
Surface Forms
Etymology
The word besom comes from an old English word besema, which meant 'bundle of twigs' used for sweeping. That's why a besom is simply a twig broom, a bunch of twigs tied to a long handle for sweeping.