Besom: meaning, definitions and examples

The word 'besom' originates from the Old English 'bēosuma', which refers to a broom made of twigs or branches. The use of 'besom' as a term for a broom can be traced back to the 15th century, and it is associated with rural and domestic life in England. Traditionally, a besom was crafted from birch or similar flexible branches, which made it effective for sweeping. The tie between besoms and witchcraft emerged in the folklore of the early modern period, when witches were often depicted using them as flying tools. Hence, the besom became a cultural symbol of sorcery and the supernatural. Over time, the word has been adopted in other contexts, though it maintains a nostalgic connection to agrarian life and traditional practices.

Ranking #36,473, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.

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• 36470 contrarily
• 36471 yeasty
• 36472 scallion
• 36473 besom
• 36474 sparred
• 36475 obsequiously
• 36476 traumatizing
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