- To beat about the bush
- Bush Bush (b[.u]sh), 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.
[1913 Webster]
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. [1913 Webster]
2. A shrub; esp., a shrub with branches rising from or near the root; a thick shrub or a cluster of shrubs. [1913 Webster]
To bind a bush of thorns among sweet-smelling flowers. --Gascoigne. [1913 Webster]
3. A shrub cut off, or a shrublike branch of a tree; as, bushes to support pea vines. [1913 Webster]
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. [1913 Webster]
If it be true that good wine needs no bush, 't is true that a good play needs no epilogue. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
5. (Hunting) The tail, or brush, of a fox. [1913 Webster]
{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. {Psaltriparus minimus} inhabits California. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
