broomstick en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (Southern-England) audio
- /ˈbɹum.stɪk/
Etymology
From broom + stick.
Meanings
- The handle of a broom (sweeping tool); (sometimes) the entire broom.
-
A broom imbued with magic, enabling one to fly astride the handle.
Most people are familiar with the age-old superstition that witches fly on broomsticks to their covens (though they were formerly also reputed to use shovels, cleft sticks, eggshells, ANIMALS and other means of flight).
2003, David Pickering, Cassell's Dictionary of Superstitions:Witches of all ages attended these lively gatherings by flying away on their broomsticks[.]
1936, Rollo Ahmed, The Black Art, London: Long, page 106:Harry ripped the parcel open and gasped as a magnificent, gleaming broomstick rolled out onto his bedspread. [...] It was a Firebolt, identical to the dream broom Harry had gone to see every day in Diagon Alley.
1999, J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, →ISBN:She really was a witch now. No one but a witch could fly a broomstick.
1997, Diana Wynne Jones, Witch Week:Greebo, hiccuping occasionally, oozed into his accustomed place among the bristles of Nanny’s broomstick. As they rose above the forest a thin plume of smoke also rose from the castle.
2002, Terry Pratchett, Witches Abroad, page 97:
- (slang) A control stick of an airplane or other vehicle.
-
(rare, slang) A firearm.
Gangdem known for the shootings, go ask Ramz – got whooshed with a broomstick.
2020 January 19, Sin Squad & Mloose, “Don't Ride Back”:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| broom-stick | alternative | lexicographic | |
| broomsticks | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Coordinates
gat · piece · gun · firearm · iron
Deriveds
broomsticking · broomsticklike · broomstickless · marry over the broomstick
Relateds
Synonyms
Translations (22)
ga scuab caillí (a broom imbued with magic) · fr manche à balai (the handle of a broom) · tl tangkay ng walis (the handle of a broom) · sv kvastskaft (the handle of a broom) · scn marruggiu (the handle of a broom) · pt cabo de vassoura (the handle of a broom) · de (fliegender) Besenstiel (a broom imbued with magic) · ro coadă de mătură (the handle of a broom) · da kosteskaft (the handle of a broom) · nl bezemsteel (the handle of a broom) · pdt Bassemstock (the handle of a broom) · pl kij od miotły (the handle of a broom) · it manico di scopa (the handle of a broom) · el σκουπόξυλο (the handle of a broom) · ja ほうきの柄 (the handle of a broom) · no kosteskaft (the handle of a broom) · hu seprűnyél (the handle of a broom) · scn vastuni (the handle of a broom) · de Besenstiel (the handle of a broom) · fr balai magique (a broom imbued with magic) · pl latająca miotła (a broom imbued with magic) · no sopelime (the handle of a broom)