In a broad or sideways manner; across the width rather than along the length.
Formed from 'broad' combined with '-wise' (a suffix meaning 'in the manner or direction of'), from Old English. The '-wise' suffix appears in modern words like 'clockwise' and 'lengthwise,' all following the same pattern.
The '-wise' suffix is one of the oldest word-building tools in English, and 'broadwise' is a perfect example of how medieval speakers could quickly create new words to describe direction or manner just by adding a suffix. It's how language evolves organically before dictionaries exist.
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