Broom

From Traditional Witchcraft Wiki Project

Broom is from the Old English word brom which referred to a common flowering shrub whose twigs were tied together to make a tool for sweeping. In places such as Suffolk, Sussex, and Wiltshire, the flowers, shrub, and even sweeping with broom twigs was traditionally considered unlucky during the month of May. Historically, the object depicted as the witch's flying broomstick that were described in wood carvings and other artwork also used the pitchfork, trough, and bowl instead of the broom that is typically thought of in modern society.

The following is a list of words that are associated with the etymology of the word broom:

• Bræmaz (Proto-Germanic) meaning thorny bush.
• Braam (Dutch)
• Bherem (Proto-Indo-European) meaning to project or a point.
• Brombeere (German) meaning blackberry.

See Also: Besom