Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Bush
Bush
(bụsh)
, Noun.
[OE.
bosch
, busch
, buysch
, bosk
, busk
; akin to D. bosch
, OHG. busc
, G. busch
, Icel. būskr
, būski
, Dan. busk
, Sw. buske
, and also to LL. boscus
, buscus
, Pr. bosc
, It. bosco
, Sp. & Pg. bosque
, F. bois
, OF. bos
. Whether the LL. or G. form is the original is uncertain; if the LL., it is perh. from the same source as E. box
a case. Cf. Ambush
, Boscage
, Bouquet
, Box
a case.] 1.
A thicket, or place abounding in trees or shrubs; a wild forest.
☞ This was the original sense of the word, as in the Dutch bosch, a wood, and was so used by Chaucer. In this sense it is extensively used in the British colonies, especially at the Cape of Good Hope, and also in Australia and Canada; as, to live or settle in the bush.
2.
A shrub; esp., a shrub with branches rising from or near the root; a thick shrub or a cluster of shrubs.
To bind a
bush
of thorns among sweet-smelling flowers. Gascoigne.
3.
A shrub cut off, or a shrublike branch of a tree;
as,
. bushes
to support pea vines4.
A shrub or branch, properly, a branch of ivy (as sacred to Bacchus), hung out at vintners’ doors, or as a tavern sign; hence, a tavern sign, and symbolically, the tavern itself.
If it be true that good wine needs no
bush
, 't is true that a good play needs no epilogue. Shakespeare
5.
(Hunting)
The tail, or brush, of a fox.
To beat about the bush
, to approach anything in a round-about manner, instead of coming directly to it; – a metaphor taken from hunting.
– Bush bean
(Bot.)
, a variety of bean which is low and requires no support (
– Phaseolus vulgaris
, variety nanus
). See Bean
, 1. Bush buck
, or
Bush goat
(Zool.)
, a beautiful South African antelope (
– Tragelaphus sylvaticus
); – so called because found mainly in wooden localities. The name is also applied to other species. Bush cat
(Zool.)
, the serval. See
– Serval
. Bush chat
(Zool.)
, a bird of the genus
– Pratincola
, of the Thrush family. Bush dog
. (Zool.)
See
– Potto
. Bush hammer
. See
– Bushhammer
in the Vocabulary. Bush harrow
(Agric.)
See under
– Harrow
. Bush hog
(Zool.)
, a South African wild hog (
– Potamochœrus Africanus
); – called also bush pig
, and water hog
. Bush master
(Zool.)
, a venomous snake (
– Lachesis mutus
) of Guinea; – called also surucucu
. Bush pea
(Bot.)
, a variety of pea that needs to be bushed.
– Bush shrike
(Zool.)
, a bird of the genus
– Thamnophilus
, and allied genera; – called also batarg
. Many species inhabit tropical America. Bush tit
(Zool.)
, a small bird of the genus
Psaltriparus
, allied to the titmouse. Psaltriparus minimus
inhabits California.Bush
(bụsh)
, Verb.
I.
To branch thickly in the manner of a bush.
“The bushing alders.” Pope.
Bush
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Bushed
(bụsht); p. pr. & vb. n.
Bushing
.] 1.
To set bushes for; to support with bushes;
as, to
. bush
peas2.
To use a bush harrow on (land), for covering seeds sown; to harrow with a bush;
as, to
. bush
a piece of land; to bush
seeds into the groundBush
,Noun.
[D.
bus
a box, akin to E. box
; or F. boucher
to plug.] 1.
(Mech.)
A lining for a hole to make it smaller; a thimble or ring of metal or wood inserted in a plate or other part of machinery to receive the wear of a pivot or arbor.
Knight.
☞ In the larger machines, such a piece is called a box, particularly in the United States.
2.
(Gun.)
A piece of copper, screwed into a gun, through which the venthole is bored.
Farrow.
Bush
,Verb.
T.
To furnish with a bush, or lining;
as, to
. bush
a pivot holeWebster 1828 Edition
Bush
BUSH
,Noun.
1.
A shrub with branches; a thick shrub; also, a cluster of shrubs. With hunters, a fox tail.2.
An assemblage of branches interwoven.3.
A branch of a tree fixed or hung out as a tavern sign. Hence, since the branch has been discontinued, a coronated frame of wood hung out as a tavern sign, is so called. Hence the English proverb, 'Good wine needs no bush.'[I know not that this word is thus used in the U. States.]
4.
A circle of metal let into the sheaves of such blocks as have iron pins, to prevent their wearing.This word when applied to sheaves is called bush, but when applied to the circular iron of a cart wheel is, in America, called a box.
BUSH
,Verb.
I.
BUSH
,Verb.
T.