ramazza

Its simplest form had probably been a kind of fagot of brushwood, -- _ramazza_, or a besom, not much unlike the rapid locomotive of witches, who were called in old times _ramassières_, from their supposed practice of riding on a _ramée_, _ramasse_, or besom.

Notes and Queries, Number 79, May 3, 1851 A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc Various 1852