English
broom
Broom comes from Old English brōm ‘brushwood’, from Proto-West Germanic *brām ‘bramble’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰer- ‘to bear, carry’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*bʰer-‘to bear, carry’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*bʰrem-‘to make noise’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*brām‘bramble’reconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150brōm‘brushwood’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500brom
- Englishearliest quotation 1610–1611broom
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*bʰer-‘to bear, carry’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*bʰrem-‘to make noise’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*brām‘bramble’reconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150brōm‘brushwood’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500brom
- Englishearliest quotation 1610–1611broom
Earliest quotation: 1610–1611, William Shakespeare, The Tempest: “[…] and thy broom groves, Whose shadow the dismissed…”
The story
Replaced English besom (from Old English besma (‘broom, rod’)), which is now restricted in meaning to a particular kind of broom.
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *bʰer- ‘to bear, carry’
different, offer, difference, bar, birth, reference, transfer, bear, prefer, relative, suffer, translation, extraordinary, relation, fortune, relate, burden, bread, barrel, differ, barn, referendum, frustration, bore, broad, translate, fury, referee, bark, fertility, borne, fertile, breeze, baron, berth, phosphate, extravagant, embargo, fret, phosphorus, 159 more
through Proto-Indo-European *bʰrem- ‘to make noise’
through Proto-West Germanic *brām ‘bramble’
Today it means
noun A domestic utensil with fibers bound together at the end of a long handle, used for sweeping.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *bʰer- / broom