noun

Broderick

Broderick (noun) means a severe beating or thrashing. Example: “He threatened to give the burglar a broderick if he ever came back.”

noun

A severe beating or thrashing.

"He threatened to give the burglar a broderick if he ever came back."

"The old slang term describes a proper hiding, not just a light scuffle."

verb

To give someone a severe beating.

"The gang threatened to broderick anyone who talked to the police."

"He got brodericked outside the pub after the argument got out of hand."

How to use Broderick

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishAs slang, a broderick is a serious beating — to broderick someone means to beat them up badly.

Common mistake

Don't confuse this slang sense with the common surname Broderick (as in actor Matthew Broderick) — context makes it obvious which is meant.

When to use it

Very informal and dated British/Irish slang; most readers will only know Broderick as a surname or first name.

Word forms

brodericked past tense, brodericks plural, brodericks singular

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He threatened to give the burglar a _____ if he ever came back.

Etymology

Broderick is originally an Anglicised Irish/Welsh surname; the slang verb and noun sense (meaning a beating) grew out of British and Irish underworld slang, likely from rhyming-slang-style wordplay rather than any connection to a real person named Broderick.

Origin: Welsh

Rhymes for Broderick

Erick limerick maverick Roderick Frederick

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Frequently asked questions

What does “Broderick” mean?

The word “Broderick” means a severe beating or thrashing. In plain terms, as slang, a broderick is a serious beating — to broderick someone means to beat them up badly.

How do you use “Broderick” in a sentence?

Here is “Broderick” used in a sentence: “He threatened to give the burglar a broderick if he ever came back.”

What part of speech is “Broderick”?

Depending on how it is used, “Broderick” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “Broderick” come from?

The word “Broderick” comes from Welsh.

How many meanings does “Broderick” have?

“Broderick” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a severe beating or thrashing.

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Words with Celtic origins