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. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

He turned a broach that had worn a crown. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An awl; a bodkin; also, a wooden rod or pin, sharpened at each end, used by thatchers. [ Prov. Eng. ] Forby. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Masonry) A broad chisel for stonecutting. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Arch.) A spire rising from a tower. [ Local, Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

6. A clasp for fastening a garment. See Brooch. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. A spitlike start, on the head of a young stag. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. The stick from which candle wicks are suspended for dipping. Knight. [ 1913 Webster ]

9. The pin in a lock which enters the barrel of the key. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

I'll broach the tadpole on my rapier's point. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To tap; to pierce, as a cask, in order to draw the liquor. Hence: To let out; to shed, as blood. [ 1913 Webster ]

Whereat with blade, with bloody blameful blade,
He bravely broached his boiling bloody breast. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To open for the first time, as stores. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To make public; to utter; to publish first; to put forth; to introduce as a topic of conversation. [ 1913 Webster ]

Those very opinions themselves had broached. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To cause to begin or break out. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Masonry) To shape roughly, as a block of stone, by chiseling with a coarse tool. [ Scot. & North of Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

7. To enlarge or dress (a hole), by using a broach. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A spit; a broach. [ 1913 Webster ]

On five sharp broachers ranked, the roast they turned. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One who broaches, opens, or utters; a first publisher or promoter. [ 1913 Webster ]

Some such broacher of heresy. Atterbury. [ 1913 Webster ]