The AI-powered English dictionary
plural broomsticks
The handle of a broom (sweeping tool). examples
A broom imbued with magic, enabling one to fly astride the handle. quotations examples
Witches of all ages attended these lively gatherings by flying away on their broomsticks[.]
1936, Rollo Ahmed, The Black Art, London: Long, page 106
She really was a witch now. No one but a witch could fly a broomstick.
1997, Diana Wynne Jones, Witch Week
Harry ripped the parcel open and gasped as a magnificent, gleaming broomstick rolled out onto his bedspread. [...] It was a Firebolt, identical to the dream broom Harry had gone to see every day in Diagon Alley.
1999, J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Greebo, hiccuping occasionally, oozed into his accustomed place among the bristles of Nanny’s broomstick. As they rose above the forest a thin plume of smoke also rose from the castle.
2002, Terry Pratchett, Witches Abroad, page 97
Most people are familiar with the age-old superstition that witches fly on broomsticks to their covens (though they were formerly also reputed to use shovels, cleft sticks, eggshells, ANIMALS and other means of flight).
2003, David Pickering, Cassell's Dictionary of Superstitions
(slang, rare) A gun. quotations
Gangdem known for the shootings, go ask Ramz – got whooshed with a broomstick.
2020 January 19, Sin Squad & Mloose (lyrics and music), “Don't Ride Back”
third-person singular simple present broomsticks, present participle broomsticking, simple past and past participle broomsticked
(intransitive) To fly on a broomstick, as witches are said to. quotations examples
BATTY: But, Mother Witch, I want to go broomsticking, too.
1955, Grade Teacher, volume 73, page 14
Cynthia the Witch, whenever she broomsticked back into town would not even be given the chance to lay eyes on my machine or my clothes.
2006, Brandi Scollins-Mantha, Floaters, page 75