Forms: 3–9 broche, 6 brooche, brouche, brutch, browche, 5–7 bruche, brouch, 7 broch, 8 bruch, ? Sc. brotch(e, 9 broach, 4, 6– brooch. [ME. broche; the same word as BROACH, the differentiation of spelling being only recent, and hardly yet established.]
1. An ornamental fastening, consisting of a safety pin, with the clasping part fashioned into a ring, boss, shield, or other device of precious metal or other material, artistically wrought, set with jewels, etc. (Cf. Fr. broche, ‘grosse épingle à l’usage des femmes.’ Littré.) Now used mainly as a (female) ornament, but always for the ostensible purpose of fastening some part of the dress.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 420. Ring ne broche nabbe ȝe.
c. 1385. Chaucer, L. G. W., 1273. Send hire letters, tokens, brooches, and rynges.
a. 1400[?]. Morte Arthure, 3257. Rebanes of golde, Bruchez and besauntez and oþer bryghte stonys.
1413. Lydg., Pylgr. Sowle, IV. xxxiii. (1483), 81. An ouche or a broche.
1530. Palsgr., 201/1. Broche for ones cappe, broche. Broche with a scripture, deuise.
1551. Robinson, trans. More’s Utop. (1869), 102. With brouches and aglettes of gold vpon their cappes, which glistered ful of peerles and precious stones.
1588. Shaks., L. L. L., V. ii. 620. S. Georges halfe cheeke in a brooch.
1720. Stow’s Surv. (ed. Strype, 1754), II. V. viii. 248/1. Hen. VIII, towards the latter Part of his Reign, wore a round flat Cap of Scarlet, or of Velvet, with a Bruch or Jewel, and a Feather.
1776. Pennant, Tour Scotl., II. 14. At the same time [Bruce] lost his mantle and brotche.
1877. Ll. Jewitt, Half-hrs. among Eng. Antiq., 223. The fibula in Norman times was more like an ornamental circle of jewels and stones, with a central pin; and its name ‘brooch’ is derived from this article, and its resemblance to a spit (French broche).
† 2. Formerly also in a more general sense: according to Johnson ‘a jewel, an ornament of jewels.’ In earlier times applied to a necklace, a bracelet, and other trinkets. Obs.
1382. Wyclif, Song Sol. i. 9. Faire ben thi cheekes, as of a turtil; thi necke as brooches.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 52. Broche, juelle … monile, armilla.
1483. Cath. Angl., 45. A Broche, firmaculum, monile.
1533. Bellenden, Livy, I. (1822), 22. The Sabinis had goldin brochis of grete wecht apoun thair left arme.
1552. Huloet, Brouche or small cheyn, whiche gentlewemen do weare about their neckes.
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., III. ii. III. iii. About her tender neck were costly bruches.
1676. Bullokar, Brouch, a kind of Jewel to wear appendant to a Chain.
† b. fig.; cf. gem, jewel. Obs.
1460. Capgrave, Chron., VI. (1858), 122. [Ethelthredus] wedded Emme, cleped ‘The broche of Normandie.’
1528. More, Heresyes, III. (1529), lxxxviii. b. It wolde be a goodly brooche for vs to loke on our owne fawltys another whyle.
1602. Shaks., Ham., IV. vii. 94. He is the Brooch indeed, And Iemme of all our Nation.
1625. B. Jonson, Staple News, III. ii. Who is The very Broch o’ the Bench, Gem o’ the City.
† 3. ‘A painting all in one colour.’ Obs. (Only in Dictionaries.)
1706. in Phillips. Hence in Bailey, Johnson, etc.
4. Comb., as brooch-maker.
c. 1450. Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 583. Firmacularius, a brouche-makere.
c. 1500. Cocke Lorell’s B. (1843), 9. Laten workers, and broche makers.
1530. Palsgr., 201/2. Broche maker, bambelottier.
