broach
pronunciation
How to pronounce broach in British English:
UK [brəʊtʃ]
How to pronounce broach in American English:
US [broʊtʃ]
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- Noun:
- a decorative pin worn by women
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- Verb:
- bring up a topic for discussion
Word Origin
- broach
- broach: [14] The original meaning of broach was ‘pierce’, and it came from a noun meaning ‘spike’. The word’s ultimate source was the Latin adjective brocchus ‘pointed, projecting’, which in Vulgar Latin came to be used as a noun, *broca ‘spike’. This passed into Old French as broche, meaning ‘long needle’ and also ‘spit for roasting’. English first borrowed the word in the 13th century, as brooch, and then took it over again in the 14th century in the above quoted French meanings.The nominal senses have now either died out or are restricted to technical contexts, but the verb, from the Vulgar Latin derivative *broccare, remains. From ‘pierce’, its meaning became specifically ‘tap a barrel’, which in the 16th century was applied metaphorically to ‘introduce a subject’. In French, the noun broche has produced a diminutive brochette ‘skewer’, borrowed into English in the 18th century; while a derivative of the verb brocher ‘stitch’ has been brochure, literally ‘a few pages stitched together’, also acquired by English in the 18th century.A further relative is broccoli [17], plural of Italian broccolo ‘cabbage sprout’, a diminutive of brocco ‘shoot’, from Vulgar Latin *brocca.=> broccoli, brochure, brooch
- broach (n.)
- "pointed instrument," c. 1300, from Old French broche (12c.) "spit for roasting, awl, point end, top," from Vulgar Latin *brocca "pointed tool," noun use of fem. of Latin adjective broccus "projecting, pointed" (used especially of teeth), perhaps of Gaulish origin (compare Gaelic brog "awl").
- broach (v.)
- "pierce," early 14c., from the same source as broach (n.). Meaning "begin to talk about" is 1570s, a figurative use with suggestions of "broaching" a cask or of spurring into action (compare Old French brochier, 12c., "to spur," also "to penetrate sexually"). Related: Broached broaching.
Example
- 1. The democrats donot even plan to broach the subject until later in the year , aftertheir first energy bill has got through .
- 2. I reluctantly broach the subject : does araki have any evidence that anyone in north korea-abductee or not-has ever heard the broadcast ?
- 3. The world economy is beginning to show signs of improvement , prompting some to broach the idea of unwinding measures put in place last year .
- 4. " Of course , " yang replied , surprised his boss would broach such a simple topic . " Otherwise , how will the bullets load ? "
- 5. He generally believes in the smaller state we would rather see ; he would slash red tape and his running-mate , paul ryan , has dared to broach much-needed entitlement reform .