See Also: besom(dictionary)

besom (iou)



besom noun & verb.
[Old English bes(e)ma = Old Frisian besma, Old Saxon besmo (Dutch bezem), Old High German besamo (German Besen), from West Germanic.]
A. noun.
A bundle of rods or twigs used for flogging. OE-ME.
An implement for sweeping; spec. a brush consisting of a bunch of birch or other twigs tied to one end of a stick. OE.
fig.: T. Fuller The riuer Kishon, God's besom to sweep away Sisera's great army.
A woman or girl. joc. or derog. Chiefly Scot. & dial. L18.
J. Agate In comparison with Rosalind's pure flame Juliet is a man-struck little besom.
b. verb.
verb intrans. Sweep with force. Only in LME.
verb trans. Sweep (away, out, etc.). L18.