Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
†BROOM, v. To signal a ship by means of a broom to indicate how many whales have been caught.Sc. 1821 Scott Pirate (1822) xxi.:
They had broomed the ship, and, as sure as there are stars in heaven, she answered them for seven fish.
