BROOCH (from a root signifying to pierce; comp. Eng. to broach; Fr. brother, to spit, or to stitch; Wel. broc, to stab), an ornamental pin or instrument for fastening the dress, consisting for the most part either of a ring or disek or of a semicircle, there being a pin in either case passing across it, fastened at one end with a joint, and at the other with a hook. Brooches were much used in antiquity, and varied in form as much as in modern times. They were worn both by men and women, and with a view both to ornament and use, from the time of Homer to the fall of the western empire. Nay, in the early portion of the middle ages, and even amongst semi-barbarous tribes, the art of making Auto seems not only to have flourished, but to have attained marvellous perfection. Many of those found, both in Ireland and in Scotland, are wonderfully beautiful in work manship, and still more so in design; and it is doubtful whether antiquity has left its anything in the way of personal ornament more perfect than the so-called FIunterston B. It was found in 1830, on the estate of Ilunterston, in the parish of w. Kilbride,
Ayrshire, near to the scene of a conflict which preceded the battle of Largs, in 1262. It is of silver, richly wrought with gold filigree, and elaborately chased with lacertine and ribbon patterns. It is set with ornaments of amber; diameter, inches. On the reverse are runes, which have been variously read. Dr. Wilson says, " what is de cipherable reads in good Scottish Celtic into what he explains to mean—Malbritha, his friend, in recompense to Maolfridi."—Prehistonc Annals. One of the most famous articles of the kind existing in Scotland is the Brooch of Lorn, in the possession of Macdougal of Dunolly, near Oban. It is believed to be identical with one torn from the breast of Robert Bruce by Alexander of Lorn, the ancestor of Macdougal, in a personal contest with the king. This interesting article is of silver, about 4 in. in diameter, with a circle of jeweled obelisks.