Broach (&?;), n. [OE. broche, F.
broche, fr. LL. brocca; prob. of Celtic origin; cf. W.
proc thrust, stab, Gael. brog awl. Cf. Brooch.]
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.]
Forby.
3. (Mech.) (a) 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. (b) A straight tool with file teeth, made
of steel, to be pressed through irregular holes in metal that cannot be
dressed by revolving tools; a drift.
4. (Masonry) A broad chisel for
stonecutting.
5. (Arch.) A spire rising from a
tower. [Local, Eng.]
6. A clasp for fastening a garment. See
Brooch.
7. A spitlike start, on the head of a young
stag.
8. The stick from which candle wicks are suspended
for dipping. Knight.
9. The pin in a lock which enters the barrel of the
key.
Broach, v. t. [imp. & p. p.
Broached (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Broaching.]
[F. brocher, fr. broche. See Broach,
n.] 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.]
Shak.
6. (Masonry) To shape roughly, as a block of
stone, by chiseling with a coarse tool. [Scot. & North of Eng.]
7. To enlarge or dress (a hole), by using a
broach.
To broach to (Naut.), to incline suddenly
to windward, so as to lay the sails aback, and expose the vessel to the
danger of oversetting.
