Bush /(bụsh)/

Bush

n.
  1. A thicket, or place abounding in trees or shrubs; a wild forest.
  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.
  5. The tail, or brush, of a fox. (Hunting)

Phrases & Compounds
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
a variety of bean which is low and requires no support (Phaseolus vulgaris, variety nanus). See Bean, 1.
Bush buck
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
the serval. See Serval.
Bush chat
a bird of the genus Pratincola, of the Thrush family.
Bush dog
See Potto.
Bush hammer
See Bushhammer in the Vocabulary.
Bush harrow
See under Harrow.
Bush hog
a South African wild hog (Potamochœrus Africanus); -- called also bush pig, and water hog.
Bush master
a venomous snake (Lachesis mutus) of Guinea; -- called also surucucu.
Bush pea
a variety of pea that needs to be bushed.
Bush shrike
a bird of the genus Thamnophilus, and allied genera; -- called also batarg. Many species inhabit tropical America.
Bush tit
a small bird of the genus Psaltriparus, allied to the titmouse. Psaltriparus minimus inhabits California.

Bush

v. i.
  1. To branch thickly in the manner of a bush.

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.
  1. 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. (Mech.)
  2. A piece of copper, screwed into a gun, through which the venthole is bored. (Gun.)

Bush

v. t.
  1. To furnish with a bush, or lining; as, to bush a pivot hole.