besme

== Middle English == === Alternative forms === beseme, besome, bisme beesme, besm, besom, bysme (Late Middle English) besum (Lincolnshire); besume, besumme (Catholicon Anglicum); besowme (Promptorium Parvulorum) === Etymology === Inherited from Old English besma, from Proto-West Germanic *besmō. Many modern dialects reflect /i/ or (with open-syllable lengthening) /eː/ rather than the /ɛ/ that would be expected from Old English -e-, presumably continuing the Old English collateral form bisme. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈbɛzmə/, /ˈbɛzəm/ IPA(key): /ˈbeːzmə/, /ˈbeːzəm/, /ˈbiz-/ (from Old English bisme) === Noun === besme (plural besmes or (early) besmen) A broom (device for sweeping) Synonym: brom (Early Middle English) A bundle of sticks; a faggot. ==== Descendants ==== English: besom Middle Scots: bissome, bussome Scots: besom, bissom, bussom ==== References ====