Sekirov Dictionary

broach

UK /bɹəʊtʃ/US /bɹoʊt͡ʃ/

noun 8
verb 6
forms 7
phrases 1

noun8

•
A spit for cooking food.
- He turned a broach that had worn a crown. — 1622
A series of chisel points mounted on one piece of steel. For example, the toothed stone chisel shown here.
A broad chisel for stone-cutting.
•
An awl; a bodkin; also, a wooden rod or pin, sharpened at each end, used by thatchers.
- It [the straw] is laid on to a considerable thickness and firmly secured by ropes or twisted straw, and pinned down by sharpened sticks called 'broaches' — 1840
(dialect, UK) A spire rising from a tower.
The pin in a lock which enters the barrel of the key.
A spit-like start on the head of a young stag.
The stick from which candle wicks are suspended for dipping.

verb6

•
To make a hole in, especially a cask of liquor, and put in a tap in order to draw the liquid.
- How often has the broached barrel proved not to be for joy and heart effusion, but for duel and head-breakage. — 1837
•
(figurative) To begin discussion about (something).
- I broached the subject of contraceptives carefully when the teenager mentioned his promiscuity.
•
To open, to make an opening into; to pierce.
- French knights at Agincourt were unable to broach the English line.
•
To be turned sideways to oncoming waves, especially large or breaking waves.
- The small boat broached and nearly sank, because of the large waves.
•
To cause to turn sideways to oncoming waves, especially large or breaking waves (usually followed by to; also figurative).
- 18th C, Thomas Dibdin, Tom Bowling Here a sheer hulk lies poor Tom Bowling ... for death hath broached him to.
- Each time we came around into the wind, the sea broached our bow.
•
To break the surface of the water.
- Diving officer, broach the ship!

forms

broach'd · broached · broacht · broaching · broaches · broacheth · broachest

Phrases with broach

broach to
To incline suddenly and involuntarily to windward, which can expose the vessel to the risk of capsizing.

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