BESOM: pronounced BEH-zmm

A broom made of twigs tied round a stick. In short, a classic witch’s broom. A very old idea and an old word (Old English). The pictures below, showing besoms at various angles, are from a gallery of Hallowe’en postcards (c. 1900-1920) aggregated by the Public Domain Review from various sources. Happy Hallowe’en, and may all your besoms be merry and bright!