- Ruscus aculeatus
- Broom Broom (br[=oo]m), n. [OE. brom, brome, AS. br[=o]m; akin
to LG. bram, D. brem, OHG. br[=a]mo broom, thorn?bush, G.
brombeere blackberry. Cf. {Bramble}, n.]
1. (Bot.) A plant having twigs suitable for making brooms to
sweep with when bound together; esp., the {Cytisus
scoparius} of Western Europe, which is a low shrub with
long, straight, green, angular branches, minute leaves,
and large yellow flowers.
[1913 Webster]
No gypsy cowered o'er fires of furze and broom. --Wordsworth. [1913 Webster]
2. An implement for sweeping floors, etc., commonly made of the panicles or tops of broom corn, bound together or attached to a long wooden handle; -- so called because originally made of the twigs of the broom. [1913 Webster]
{Butcher's broom}, a plant ({Ruscus aculeatus}) of the Smilax family, used by butchers for brooms to sweep their blocks; -- called also {knee holly}. See {Cladophyll}.
{Dyer's broom}, a species of mignonette ({Reseda luteola}), used for dyeing yellow; dyer's weed; dyer's rocket.
{Spanish broom}. See under {Spanish}. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
