besme

Middle English

Alternative forms

• beseme, besome, bisme
• besm, besom, besowme, besum, besume, besumme, bysme (Late Middle English)

Etymology

Inherited from Old English besma, from Proto-West Germanic *besmō.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbeːzmə/, /ˈbeːzəm/, /ˈbɛz-/

Noun

besme (plural besmes or (early) besmen)

1. A broom (device for sweeping)

   Synonym: brom

2. (Early Middle English) A bundle of sticks; a faggot.

Descendants

• English: besom
• Scots: besom, bisom

References

• “bē̆sm(e, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.