brooch

[brohch, brooch]

noun

1. a clasp or ornament having a pin at the back for passing through the clothing and a catch for securing the point of the pin.

brooch

/ brəʊtʃ /

noun

1. an ornament with a hinged pin and catch, worn fastened to clothing

Other Word Forms

• unbrooch verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of brooch¹

1175–1225; Middle English broche broach, differentiated in spelling since circa 1600

Word History and Origins

Origin of brooch¹

C13: from Old French broche ; see _broach ¹

Example Sentences

Clients of Grant, Ronson, Greene & Associates escape their marriage shackles with a hoard of treasure — there’s an entire subplot pinned to bidding on a brooch in a Christie’s auction, in fact.

Read more on Salon

Among the eight items stolen were diadems, necklaces, ear-rings and brooches adorned with thousands of diamonds and other precious gemstones.

Read more on BBC

But look past this headline heist and you’ll find an everyday criminal reality — namely, that necklaces, brooches, bracelets and the like are stolen from homes and jewelry stores all the time.

Read more on MarketWatch

Among the stolen pieces was a large, diamond-encrusted bow brooch that belonged to the same empress.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The stolen items included sapphire and emerald sets once worn by Napoleon’s wives and Empress Eugénie’s diamond corsage brooch.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• jewelry