Also 7 breem. [Of uncertain origin: known only since 1600. It has been conjecturally referred to Du. brem ‘broom, furze,’ and to Eng. broom, as a deriv. vb., or a dialect variant: but evidence is lacking. Conjectures identifying the word with bren, BURN, are unsupported exc. by the analogy of Ger. ein Schiff brennen, F. chauffer le vaisseau, donner le feu.]
trans. To clear (a ship’s bottom) of shells, seaweed, ooze, etc., by singeing it with burning reeds, furze, or fagots, thus softening the pitch so that the rubbish adhering may be swept off. Cf. BROOM v.
1626. Capt. Smith, Accid. Yng. Seamen, 3. For calking, breaming, stopping leakes. Ibid. (1627), Seaman’s Gram., ii. 13. Breaming her, is but washing or burning of all the filth with reeds or broome.
1628. Digby, Voy. Medit. (1868), 60. There I careend and breemed my shippes with verie great diligence.
1779. Forrest, Voy. N. Guinea, 260. On the 8th we breamed the vessel’s bottom.
1875. Fortn. Rev., Aug., 206. Bonfires of brushwood, lighted to bream the sharp-bowed craft.
