Be"som (?), 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.

[Archaic or Fig.]

I will sweep it with the besom of destruction. Isa. xiv. 23.

The housemaid with her besom. W. Irving.

 

© Webster 1913.


Be"som, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Besomed (#).]

To sweep, as with a besom.

[Archaic or Poetic]

Cowper.

Rolls back all Greece, and besoms wide the plain. Barlow.

 

© Webster 1913.