bush

bush¹

—bushless, adj. —bushlike, adj.

/boosh/, n.

1. a low plant with many branches that arise from or near the ground.

2. a small cluster of shrubs appearing as a single plant.

3. something resembling or suggesting this, as a thick, shaggy head of hair.

4. Also called bush lot. Canadian. a small, wooded lot, esp. a farm lot with trees left standing to provide firewood, fence posts, etc.

5. the tail of a fox; brush.

6. Geog. a stretch of uncultivated land covered with mixed plant growth, bushy vegetation, trees, etc.

7. a large uncleared area thickly covered with mixed plant growth, trees, etc., as a jungle.

8. a large, sparsely populated area most of which is uncleared, as areas of Australia and Alaska.

9. a tree branch hung as a sign before a tavern or vintner's shop.

10. any tavern sign.

11. Slang (vulgar). pubic hair.

12. Archaic. a wineshop.

13. beat around or about the bush, to avoid coming to the point; delay in approaching a subject directly: Stop beating around the bush and tell me what you want.

14. beat the bushes, to scout or search for persons or things far and wide: beating the bushes for engineers.

15. go bush, Australian.

a. to flee or escape into the bush.

b. Slang. to become wild.

v.i.

16. to be or become bushy; branch or spread as or like a bush.

v.t.

17. to cover, protect, support, or mark with a bush or bushes.

adj.

18. bush-league.

[bef. 1000; ME busshe, OE busc (in place-names); c. D bos wood, G Busch, ON buskr bush]

bush²

/boosh/, n.

1. a lining of metal or the like set into an orifice to guard against wearing by friction, erosion, etc.

2. a bushing.

v.t.

3. to furnish with a bush; line with metal.

[1560-70; < MD bussche; see BOX¹]

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(as used in expressions)

butterfly bush

Bush George Herbert Walker

Bush George Walker

Bush Vannevar

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