I. ˈbrōch noun
( -es )
Etymology: Middle English broche, from Middle French, from Old French, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin brocca, from feminine of Latin broccus projecting (of teeth)
1. archaic : a pointed rod usually of wood or iron used as an awl, bodkin, lance, spear
2. : any of various pointed or spikelike tools, implements, or parts: as
a. : a spit for roasting meat
b. : the stick from which candlewicks are suspended for dipping
c. now chiefly Scotland : a spindle on which newly spun yarn is wound
d. : a wooden rod sharpened at both ends used by thatchers
e.
(1) : the pin in a lock that enters the barrel of the key
(2) : the part of the stem of a key beyond the web or bit made to enter a socket
f. : the steel tooth of the doffer comb of a carding machine
3. : one of the four semipyramidal slopes marking the transition at the corners of a square tower to the sides of an octagonal spire above — compare broach spire
4. : a point of a young stag's horn resembling a spit
5. : a cutting tool for removing material from a metal or plastic to shape an outside surface or a hole that has been previously formed (as by casting or drilling) consisting of a bar of suitable length provided on its surface with a series of cutting edges or teeth that increase in size from the entering or starting end, the tool being fed through or past the work by a translational movement along its axis and, because the cutting edges are progressively higher, each succeeding tooth removing additional material
6. : a fine tapered flexible instrument used in dentistry in removing the dental pulp and in dressing a root canal
7. : brooch
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-es )
Etymology: Middle English brochen, from Middle French brocher, from Old French brochier, from broche
transitive verb
1. obsolete : stab , pierce , prick
2. obsolete : spit : fix on a spit
3.
a.
(1) : to pierce (as a cask) in order to draw the contents : tap
(2) : to open (a vein) to draw blood
b. : to open up or break into (as a mine or stores)
4. : to shape (a block of stone) roughly by chiseling with a coarse tool
5. : to shape or enlarge (a hole) with a broach or boring tool
6. : present , announce , introduce
broached a hot lunch program
: make known for the first time : begin to disclose : open up (a subject) for discussion or debate
a suggestion first broached two years ago
this is a good time to broach the subject
7. : to drill or cut out (material left between adjacent holes in a row of closely spaced drill holes) in mining and quarrying
intransitive verb
: to break to the surface from below (as a whale or a torpedo in the course of a run)
Synonyms: see express
III. verb
( -ed/-ing/-es )
Etymology: perhaps from broach (II)
intransitive verb
: to veer or yaw especially in a following sea so as to lie beam on to the waves with danger of capsizing or swamping — used chiefly with to
strove to keep the tiny boat from broaching to in the heavy seas — G.G.Carter
transitive verb
: to cause (a boat) to swing beam on to the waves
IV. noun
( -es )
Etymology: Broach, Bharoch, city in Bombay state, India
: a short-staple cotton grown especially in Bombay state, India