Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Broach?

\Broach\, n. [OE. broche, F. broche, fr. LL. brocca; prob. of Celtic origin; cf. W. proc thrust, stab, Gael. brog awl. Cf. {Brooch}.] 1. A spit. [Obs.] He turned a broach that had worn a crown. --Bacon. 2. An awl; a bodkin; also, a wooden rod or pin, sharpened at each end, used by thatchers. [Prov. Eng.] --Forby. 3. (Mech.) (a) A tool of steel, generally tapering, and of a polygonal form, with from four to eight cutting edges, for smoothing or enlarging holes in metal; sometimes made smooth or without edges, as for burnishing pivot holes in watches; a reamer. The broach for gun barrels is commonly square and without taper. (b) A straight tool with file teeth, made of steel, to be pressed through irregular holes in metal that cannot be dressed by revolving tools; a drift. 4. (Masonry) A broad chisel for stonecutting. 5. (Arch.) A spire rising from a tower. [Local, Eng.] 6. A clasp for fastening a garment. See {Brooch}. 7. A spitlike start, on the head of a young stag. 8. The stick from which candle wicks are suspended for dipping. --Knight. 9. The pin in a lock which enters the barrel of the key.
\Broach\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Broached}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Broaching}.] [F. brocher, fr. broche. See {Broach}, n.] 1. To spit; to pierce as with a spit. I'll broach the tadpole on my rapier's point. --Shak. 2. To tap; to pierce, as a cask, in order to draw the liquor. Hence: To let out; to shed, as blood. Whereat with blade, with bloody blameful blade, He bravely broached his boiling bloody breast. --Shak. 3. To open for the first time, as stores. You shall want neither weapons, victuals, nor aid; I will open the old armories, I will broach my store, and will bring forth my stores. --Knolles. 4. To make public; to utter; to publish first; to put forth; to introduce as a topic of conversation. Those very opinions themselves had broached. --Swift. 5. To cause to begin or break out. [Obs.] --Shak. 6. (Masonry) To shape roughly, as a block of stone, by chiseling with a coarse tool. [Scot. & North of Eng.] 7. To enlarge or dress (a hole), by using a broach. {To broach to} (Naut.), to incline suddenly to windward, so as to lay the sails aback, and expose the vessel to the danger of oversetting.