to broach to

1 definition found

to broach to - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Broach \Broach\, 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.
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              I'll broach the tadpole on my rapier's point.
                                                    --Shak.
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     2. To tap; to pierce, as a cask, in order to draw the liquor.
        Hence: To let out; to shed, as blood.
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              Whereat with blade, with bloody blameful blade,
              He bravely broached his boiling bloody breast.
                                                    --Shak.
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     3. To open for the first time, as stores.
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              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.
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     4. To make public; to utter; to publish first; to put forth;
        to introduce as a topic of conversation.
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              Those very opinions themselves had broached.
                                                    --Swift.
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     5. To cause to begin or break out. [Obs.] --Shak.
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     6. (Masonry) To shape roughly, as a block of stone, by
        chiseling with a coarse tool. [Scot. & North of Eng.]
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     7. To enlarge or dress (a hole), by using a broach.
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     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.
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