Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Bush?

\Bush\, n. [OE. bosch, busch, buysch, bosk, busk; akin to D. bosch, OHG. busc, G. busch, Icel. b[=u]skr, b[=u]ski, 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. Note: 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 vines. 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. If it be true that good wine needs no bush, 't is true that a good play needs no epilogue. --Shak. 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} (Zo["o]l.), 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} (Zo["o]l.), the serval. See {Serval}. {Bush chat} (Zo["o]l.), a bird of the genus {Pratincola}, of the Thrush family. {Bush dog}. (Zo["o]l.) See {Potto}. {Bush hammer}. See {Bushhammer} in the Vocabulary. {Bush harrow} (Agric.) See under {Harrow}. {Bush hog} (Zo["o]l.), a South African wild hog ({Potamoch[oe]rus Africanus}); -- called also {bush pig}, and {water hog}. {Bush master} (Zo["o]l.), a venomous snake ({Lachesis mutus}) of Guinea; -- called also {surucucu}. {Bush pea} (Bot.), a variety of pea that needs to be bushed. {Bush shrike} (Zo["o]l.), a bird of the genus {Thamnophilus}, and allied genera; -- called also {batarg}. Many species inhabit tropical America. {Bush tit} (Zo["o]l.), a small bird of the genus {Psaltriparus}, allied to the titmouse. {P. minimus} inhabits California.
\Bush\, v. i. To branch thickly in the manner of a bush. ``The bushing alders.'' --Pope.
\Bush\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Bushed} (?); p. pr. & vb. n. {Bushing}.] 1. To set bushes for; to support with bushes; as, to bush peas. 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.
\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. Note: 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\, v. t. To furnish with a bush, or lining; as, to bush a pivot hole.