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1. With a crook or bend; with the hand on the hip and elbow turned outward.

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Besom brooms are traditionally constructed brooms made of a bundle of twigs tied to a stouter pole. They are still made today and sold at garden centers as an outdoor broom. They are the broom traditionally associated with witches. As a result of its construction around a central pole, the brush of the besom is rounded instead of flat. The bristles can be made of many materials including, but not limited to straw, herbs, or twigs. Traditionally the handle is of hazel wood and the head is of birch twigs. Modern construction uses bindings of wire and string (instead of the traditional split withy) and the head is secured by a steel nail instead of a wooden dowel.

Supposedly, an upward pointed besom (bristles up), especially over or near a doorway, will help protect the house from evil spirits or negative energies.

Origins

Bible

[...] I will sweep it with the besom of destruction, saith the LORD of hosts.

– Isaiah 14:23 (KJV translation)

Language origins

There is a reference to besoms in the book, "Burning Lights," by Bella Chagall (Bella Rosenfeld), with illustrations by her famous husband, Marc Chagall. She refers to besoms as a switch used in a women's bath house, perhaps in some treatment of women's backs.

'Besom' is also a common Scottish expression, a noun used to describe 'playful' little girls "dinnae pu' ya brother's hair, ya wee besom" or a woman of low moral standing, a hussy.

'Besom is also pronounced in the same way as the Dutch word 'bezem' (meaning 'broom').