Emily Dickinson Lexicon

BRIDE'GROOM, n. [Originally and properly bridegoom, from Sax. brydguma; Sw. brudgumme; D. bruidegom; Ger. bräutigam; Dan. brudgom; a compound of bride and gum, guma, a man, which, by our ancestors, was pronounced goom. This word, by a mispronouncing of the last syllable has been corrupted into bridegroom, which signifies a bride's hostler; groom being a Persian word, signifying a man who has the care of horses.]

A man newly married; or a man about to be married. The passage of Shakespeare cited by Johnson proves that the last definition is just. As are three dulcet sounds in break of day, / That creep into the dreaming bridegroom's ear, / And summon him to marriage.