broach

[brohch] /broʊtʃ/
noun
1.
Machinery. an elongated, tapered, serrated cutting tool for shaping and enlarging holes.
2.
a spit for roasting meat.
3.
a gimlet for tapping casks.
4.
(in a lock) a pin receiving the barrel of a key.
5.
Also, broach spire. Architecture. an octagonal spire rising directly from a tower without any intervening feature.
6.
Masonry. a pointed tool for the rough dressing of stone.
7.
brooch.
verb (used with object)
8.
to enlarge and finish with a broach.
9.
to mention or suggest for the first time:
to broach a subject.
10.
to draw (beer, liquor, etc.), as by tapping:
to broach beer from a keg.
11.
to tap or pierce.
12.
Masonry. to shape or dress (a block of stone).
verb (used without object)
13.
Nautical. (of a sailing vessel) to veer to windward.
14.
to break the surface of water; rise from the sea, as a fish or a submarine.
Origin
1175-1225; (noun) Middle English broche < Anglo-French, Old French < Vulgar Latin *brocca spike, horn, tap of a cask (Medieval Latin broca), noun use of feminine of Latin adj. brocc(h)us projecting (said of teeth); (v.) Middle English brochen < Old French broch(i)er, derivative of the noun
Related forms
broacher, noun
unbroached, adjective
Can be confused
broach, brooch.
Synonyms
8. introduce, propose, bring up, submit, advance.
Examples from the web for broach
  • Only her periscope, antennas, and snorkel would ever have to broach into the open air.
  • He was unwilling to broach the delicate subject with just about anyone.
  • The question is how and when to broach the subject in order to do more good than harm.
  • Later chapters broach hot-button topics like genetically modified food and the backlash against animal testing.
  • I'd love to hear your advice as to how to broach this subject.
  • It was a legitimate subject to broach.
  • The music industry's decline has been swift, merciless and bloody; perhaps it's best to broach such a dire story by laughing.
  • He was the first to broach the idea of school vouchers in polite conversation.
  • Usually, two to seven wicks were secured to each broach.
British Dictionary definitions for broach

broach1

/brəʊtʃ/
verb
1.
(transitive) to initiate (a topic) for discussion: to broach a dangerous subject
2.
(transitive) to tap or pierce (a container) to draw off (a liquid): to broach a cask, to broach wine
3.
(transitive) to open in order to begin to use: to broach a shipment
4.
(intransitive) to break the surface of the water: the trout broached after being hooked
5.
(transitive) (machinery) to enlarge and finish (a hole) by reaming
noun
6.
a long tapered toothed cutting tool for enlarging holes
7.
a spit for roasting meat, etc
8.
a roof covering the corner triangle on the top of a square tower having an octagonal spire
9.
a pin, forming part of some types of lock, that registers in the hollow bore of a key
10.
a tool used for tapping casks
11.
a less common spelling of brooch
Derived Forms
broacher, noun
Word Origin
C14: from Old French broche, from Vulgar Latin brocca (unattested), from Latin brochus projecting

broach2

/brəʊtʃ/
verb
1.
(nautical) (usually foll by to) to cause (a sailing vessel) to swerve sharply and dangerously or (of a sailing vessel) to swerve sharply and dangerously in a following sea, so as to be broadside to the waves
Word Origin
C18: perhaps from broach1 in obsolete sense of turn on a spit
Word Origin and History for 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 (cf. Gaelic brog "awl").

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 (cf. Old French brochier, 12c., "to spur," also "to penetrate sexually"). Related: Broached broaching.

broach in Medicine

broach (brōch)
n.
A dental instrument for removing the pulp of a tooth or exploring its canal.