Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

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.

            I'll broach the tadpole on my rapier's point.
                                                  --Shak.

   2. To tap; to pierce, as a cask, in order to draw the liquor.
      Hence: To let out; to shed, as blood.

            Whereat with blade, with bloody blameful blade, He
            bravely broached his boiling bloody breast. --Shak.

   3. To open for the first time, as stores.

            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.

   4. To make public; to utter; to publish first; to put forth;
      to introduce as a topic of conversation.

            Those very opinions themselves had broached.
                                                  --Swift.

   5. To cause to begin or break out. [Obs.] --Shak.

   6. (Masonry) To shape roughly, as a block of stone, by
      chiseling with a coarse tool. [Scot. & North of Eng.]

   7. To enlarge or dress (a hole), by using a broach.

   {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.

Broach \Broach\, n. [OE. broche, F. broche, fr. LL. brocca;
   prob. of Celtic origin; cf. W. proc thrust, stab, Gael. brog
   awl. Cf. {Brooch}.]
   1. A spit. [Obs.]

            He turned a broach that had worn a crown. --Bacon.

   2. An awl; a bodkin; also, a wooden rod or pin, sharpened at
      each end, used by thatchers. [Prov. Eng.] --Forby.

   3. (Mech.)
      (a) A tool of steel, generally tapering, and of a
          polygonal form, with from four to eight cutting edges,
          for smoothing or enlarging holes in metal; sometimes
          made smooth or without edges, as for burnishing pivot
          holes in watches; a reamer. The broach for gun barrels
          is commonly square and without taper.
      (b) A straight tool with file teeth, made of steel, to be
          pressed through irregular holes in metal that cannot
          be dressed by revolving tools; a drift.

   4. (Masonry) A broad chisel for stonecutting.

   5. (Arch.) A spire rising from a tower. [Local, Eng.]

   6. A clasp for fastening a garment. See {Brooch}.

   7. A spitlike start, on the head of a young stag.

   8. The stick from which candle wicks are suspended for
      dipping. --Knight.

   9. The pin in a lock which enters the barrel of the key.

Source : WordNet®

broach
     n : a decorative pin worn by women [syn: {brooch}, {breastpin}]
     v : bring up a topic for discussion [syn: {initiate}]