besom

• POS: Noun, Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: be=som

CIDE DICTIONARY

besom, n. [OE. besme, besum, AS. besma; akin to D. bezem, OHG pesamo, G. besen; of uncertain origin.].

 A brush of twigs for sweeping; a broom; anything which sweeps away or destroys.  [1913 Webster]
"I will sweep it with the besom of destruction."  [1913 Webster]
"The housemaid with her besom."  [1913 Webster]

besom, v. t. 

 To sweep, as with a besom.  Cowper.  [1913 Webster]
"Rolls back all Greece, and besoms wide the plain."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

besom, n.
1 a broom made of twigs tied round a stick.
2 esp. N.Engl. derog. or joc. a woman.

Etymology

OE besema

ROGET THESAURUS

besom

Cleanness

N cleanness, cleanliness, purity, cleaning, purification, defecation, purgation, lustration, detersion, abstersion, epuration, mundation, ablution, lavation, colature, disinfection, drainage, sewerage, lavatory, laundry, washhouse, washerwoman, laundress, dhobi, laundryman, washerman, scavenger, dustman, sweep, white wings brush, broom, besom, mop, rake, shovel, sieve, riddle, screen, filter, blotter, napkin, cloth, maukin, malkin, handkerchief, towel, sudary, doyley, doily, duster, sponge, mop, swab, cover, drugget, wash, lotion, detergent, cathartic, purgative, purifier, disinfectant, aperient, benzene, benzine benzol, benolin, bleaching powder, chloride of lime, dentifrice, deobstruent, laxative, clean, cleanly, pure, immaculate, spotless, stainless, taintless, trig, without a stain, unstained, unspotted, unsoiled, unsullied, untainted, uninfected, sweet, sweet as a nut, neat, spruce, tidy, trim, gimp, clean as a new penny, like a cat in pattens, cleaned, kempt, abstergent, cathartic, cleansing, purifying, neatly, clean as a whistle.