GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English
last match results
Found 5 definitions
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Bush (bụsh), n. [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.
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☞ 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.
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2. A shrub; esp., a shrub with branches rising from or near the root; a thick shrub or a cluster of shrubs.
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To bind a bush of thorns among sweet-smelling flowers. Gascoigne.
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3. A shrub cut off, or a shrublike branch of a tree; as, “bushes to support pea vines”.
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4. 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.
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If it be true that good wine needs no bush, 't is true that a good play needs no epilogue. Shak.
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5. (Hunting) The tail, or brush, of a fox.
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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.
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Bush (bụsh), v. i. To branch thickly in the manner of a bush. “The bushing alders.” Pope.
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Bush, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bushed (bụsht); p. pr. & vb. n. Bushing.]
1. To set bushes for; to support with bushes; as, “to bush peas”.
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2. 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 ground”.
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Bush, n. [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.
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☞ In the larger machines, such a piece is called a box, particularly in the United States.
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2. (Gun.) A piece of copper, screwed into a gun, through which the venthole is bored. Farrow.
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Bush, v. t. To furnish with a bush, or lining; as, “to bush a pivot hole”.
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