Broach — Defs

01 n. A spit.

1.
A spit.[Obs.]
“He turned a broach that had worn a crown.” — Bacon.
2.
An awl; a bodkin; also, a wooden rod or pin, sharpened at each end, used by thatchers.[Prov. Eng.]
3.
A tool of steel, generally tapering, and of a polygonal form, with from four to eight cutting edges, for smoothing or enlarging holes in metal; sometimes made smooth or without edges, as for burnishing pivot holes in watches; a reamer. The broach for gun barrels is commonly square and without taper.(Mech.)
4.
A broad chisel for stonecutting.(Masonry)
5.
A spire rising from a tower.(Arch.) [Local, Eng.]
6.
A clasp for fastening a garment. See Brooch. See: Brooch
7.
A spitlike start, on the head of a young stag.
8.
The stick from which candle wicks are suspended for dipping.
9.
The pin in a lock which enters the barrel of the key.

02 v. t. To spit; to pierce as with a spit.

imp. & p. p. Broached; p. pr. & vb. n. Broaching

1.
To spit; to pierce as with a spit.
“I'll broach the tadpole on my rapier's point.” — Shak.
2.
To tap; to pierce, as a cask, in order to draw the liquor. Hence: To let out; to shed, as blood.
“Whereat with blade, with bloody blameful blade, He bravely broached his boiling bloody breast.” — Shak.
3.
To open for the first time, as stores.
“You shall want neither weapons, victuals, nor aid; I will open the old armories, I will broach my store, and will bring forth my stores.” — Knolles.
4.
To make public; to utter; to publish first; to put forth; to introduce as a topic of conversation.
“Those very opinions themselves had broached.” — Swift.
5.
To cause to begin or break out.[Obs.]
6.
To shape roughly, as a block of stone, by chiseling with a coarse tool.(Masonry) [Scot. & North of Eng.]
7.
To enlarge or dress (a hole), by using a broach.

Phrases & compounds

To broach to — to incline suddenly to windward, so as to lay the sails aback, and expose the vessel to the danger of oversetting.