brooch

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   an ornamental pin or clasp worn on clothing

   She fastened a silver brooch to the collar of her coat.

2. 2
   verb

   to fasten or adorn something with a brooch

   The designer brooched the folded scarf at one shoulder.

A spelling variant of broach that became specialized for the ornamental pin. It comes through Middle English and Old French broche, 'pointed tool, skewer, or pin,' probably from a Vulgar Latin form *brocca, 'pointed object.' Brooch and broach were not consistently distinguished in spelling until modern English.

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