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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

3 entries under this word

Brush

Brŭsh, n.

noun

n. [O. Fr. brosse, broce, broche, brushwood, N. Fr., brush, brossailles, broussailles, brush-wood, Pr. brossa, thicket, brus, heather, Sp. broza, bruza, It. brusca, brush, O. H. Ger. brusta, bursta, burst, borst, bristle, N. H. Ger. borste, bristle, bürste, brush, from O. H. Ger. bursta, bristle.]

  1. An instrument composed of bristles, or other like materials, set in wood or bound together, used for various purposes, as removing dust from clothes, laying on colors, &c., and having a different form and name according to its use; as, clothes-brush, paint-brush, &c.
  2. Branches of trees lopped off; brushwood.
  3. A thicket of shrubs or small trees; the shrubs and small trees in a wood, called under-brush.
  4. A skirmish; a slight encounter; an assault; a shock or collision; as, to have a brush with an enemy.

Let grow thy sinews till their knots be strong, And tempt not yet the brushes of the war. Shak. 5. The bushy tail of a fox. Electrical brush, the brush-like appearance of luminous rays diverging from a pointed electrified body.

Brŭsh, v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. [imp. & p. p. BRUSHED (brŭsht); p. pr. & vb. n. BRUSHING.]

Sense 1. To apply a brush to, according to its particular use; to rub, clean, paint, &c., with a brush. “He brushes his hat o’ mornings.” Shak.

Sense 2. To touch in passing, or to pass lightly over, as a brush.

Some spread their sails, some with strong oars sweep The waters smooth, and brush the buxom wave. Fairfax.

Brushed with the kiss of rustling wings. Milton.

Sense 3. To remove or gather by brushing, or by an act like that of brushing, or by passing lightly over, as wind;—commonly with off.

As wicked dew as e’er my mother brushed With raven’s feather from unwholesome fen. Shak.

And from the boughs brush off the evil dew. Milton.

To brush up, to paint, or make clean or bright with a brush; to cleanse or improve; to renew.

You have commissioned me to paint your shop, and I have done my best to brush you up like your neighbors. Pope.

Brŭsh, v. i.

verbintransitive

Sense 1. To move nimbly in haste; to move so lightly as scarcely to be perceived; as, to brush by.

Snatching his hat, he brushed off like the wind. Goldsmith.

Sense 2. To move or skim over with a slight contact, or without much impression. Dryden.