Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Rush
Rush
,Noun.
[OE.
rusche
, rische
, resche
, AS. risce
, akin to LG. rusk
, risch
, D. & G. rusch
; all probably fr. L. ruscum
butcher’s broom; akin to Goth. raus
reed, G. rohr
.] 1.
(Bot.)
A name given to many aquatic or marsh-growing endogenous plants with soft, slender stems, as the species of
Juncus
and Scirpus
. ☞ Some species are used in bottoming chairs and plaiting mats, and the pith is used in some places for wicks to lamps and rushlights.
2.
The merest trifle; a straw.
John Bull's friendship is not worth a
rush
. Arbuthnot.
Bog rush
. See under
– Bog
. Club rush
, any rush of the genus
– Scirpus
. Flowering rush
. See under
– Flowering
. Nut rush
(a)
Any plant of the genus
. Scleria
, rushlike plants with hard nutlike fruits(b)
A name for several species of
– Cyperus
having tuberous roots. Rush broom
, an Australian leguminous plant (
– Viminaria denudata
), having long, slender branches. Also, the Spanish broom. See under Spanish
. Rush candle
, See under
– Candle
. Rush grass
, any grass of the genus
– Vilfa
, grasses with wiry stems and one-flowered spikelets. Rush toad
(Zool.)
, the natterjack.
– Scouring rush
. (Bot.)
Same as
– Dutch rush
, under Dutch.
– Spike rush
, any rushlike plant of the genus Eleocharis
, in which the flowers grow in dense spikes. Sweet rush
, a sweet-scented grass of Arabia, etc. (
– Andropogon schoenanthus
), used in Oriental medical practice. Wood rush
, any plant of the genus
Luzula
, which differs in some technical characters from Juncus
.Rush
(rŭsh)
, Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Rushed
(rŭsht)
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Rushing
.] [OE.
ruschen
; cf. AS. hryscan
to make a noise, D. ruischen
to rustle, G. rauschen
, MHG. rūschen
to rush, to rustle, LG. rusken
, OSw. ruska
, Icel. & Sw. ruska
to shake, Dan. ruske
to shake, and E. rouse
.] 1.
To move forward with impetuosity, violence, and tumultuous rapidity or haste;
as, armies
. rush
to battle; waters rush
down a precipiceLike to an entered tide, they all
rush
by. Shakespeare
2.
To enter into something with undue haste and eagerness, or without due deliberation and preparation;
as, to
. rush
business or speculationThey . . . never think it to be a part of religion to
rush
into the office of princes and ministers. Sprat.
Rush
,Verb.
T.
1.
To push or urge forward with impetuosity or violence; to hurry forward.
2.
To recite (a lesson) or pass (an examination) without an error.
[College Cant, U.S.]
Rush
,Noun.
1.
A moving forward with rapidity and force or eagerness; a violent motion or course;
as, a
. rush
of troops; a rush
of winds; a rush
of waterA gentleman of his train spurred up his horse, and, with a violent
rush
, severed him from the duke. Sir H. Wotton.
2.
Great activity with pressure;
as, a
. rush
of business[Colloq.]
3.
A perfect recitation.
[College Cant, U.S.]
4.
(Football)
(a)
A rusher;
as, the center
. rush
, whose place is in the center of the rush line; the end rush
(b)
The act of running with the ball.
Bunt rush
(Football)
, a combined rush by main strength.
– Rush line
(Football)
, the line composed of rushers.
Webster 1828 Edition
Rush
RUSH
,Noun.
1.
A plant of the genus Juncus of many species. The pith of the rush is used in some places for wicks to lamps and rush lights.2.
Any thing proverbially worthless or of trivial value.John Bull's friendship is not worth a rush.
RUSH
,Verb.
I.
1.
To move or drive forward with impetuosity, violence and tumultuous rapidity; as, armies rush to battle; waters rush down a precipice; winds rush through the forest. We ought never to rush into company, much less into a religious assembly.2.
To enter with undue eagerness, or without due deliberation and preparation; as, to rush into business or speculation; to rush into the ministry.RUSH
,Verb.
T.
RUSH
,Noun.
Definition 2024
Rush
rush
rush
English
Noun
rush (plural rushes)
- Any of several stiff aquatic or marsh plants of the genus Juncus, having hollow or pithy stems and small flowers.
- The stem of such plants used in making baskets, mats, the seats of chairs, etc.
- The merest trifle; a straw.
- (Can we date this quote?) Arbuthnot
- John Bull's friendship is not worth a rush.
- (Can we date this quote?) Arbuthnot
Translations
plant
|
stem of that plant
|
Etymology 2
Perhaps from Middle English ruschen, russchen (“to rush, startle”), from Old English hryscan, hrȳscan (“to jolt, startle”), from Proto-Germanic *hurskijaną (“to startle, drive”), from *hurskaz (“fast, rapid, quick”), from Proto-Indo-European *kors- (“to run, hurry”). Cognate with Old High German hurscan (“to speed, accelerate”), Old English horsc (“quick, quick-witted, clever”). More at hurry.
etymology note
|
An alternative etymology traces rush via Middle English rouschen (“to rush”) from Old English *rūscian (“to rush”) from Proto-Germanic *rūskōną (“to rush, storm, be fierce, be cruel”), a variant (with formative k) of Proto-Germanic *rūsōną (“to be cruel, storm, rush”) from Proto-Indo-European *(o)rewə- (“to drive, move, agitate”), making it akin to Old High German rosc, rosci (“quick”), Middle Low German rūschen (“to rush”), Middle High German rūschen, riuschen (“to rush”) (German rauschen (“to rush”)), North Frisian ruse (“to rush”), Middle Dutch ruuscen (“to make haste”), Middle Dutch rūsen (“to rush”) (Dutch ruisen (“to rush”)), Danish ruse (“to rush”), Swedish rusa (“to rush”). Compare Middle High German rūsch (“a charge, rush”). Influenced by Middle English russhen (“to force back”) from Anglo-Norman russher, russer from Old French ruser, rëuser. Alternatively, according to the OED, perhaps an adaptation of Anglo-Norman russher, russer (“to force back, down, out of place, by violent impact", "to pull out or drag off violently or hastily”), from Old French re(h)usser, ruser (although the connection of the forms with single -s- and double -ss- is dubious; also adopted in English ruse; French ruser (“to retreat, drive back”)), from an assumed Vulgar Latin *refusō and Latin refundō (“I cause to flow back”), although connection to the same Germanic root is also possible. More at rouse. |
Noun
rush (plural rushes)
- A sudden forward motion.
- Sir H. Wotton
- A gentleman of his train spurred up his horse, and, with a violent rush, severed him from the duke.
- 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 19, in The China Governess:
- When Timothy and Julia hurried up the staircase to the bedroom floor, where a considerable commotion was taking place, Tim took Barry Leach with him. […] . The captive made no resistance and came not only quietly but in a series of eager little rushes like a timid dog on a choke chain.
- Sir H. Wotton
- A surge.
- A rush of business can be difficult to handle effectively for its unexpected volume.
- General haste.
- Many errors were made in the rush to finish.
- A rapid, noisy flow.
- a rush of water; a rush of footsteps
- (military) A sudden attack; an onslaught.
- (contact sports) The act of running at another player to block or disrupt play.
- a rush on the quarterback
- (American football, dated) A rusher; a lineman.
- the center rush, whose place is in the center of the rush line
- A sudden, brief exhilaration, for instance the pleasurable sensation produced by a stimulant.
- The rollercoaster gave me a rush.
- (US, figuratively) A regulated period of recruitment in fraternities and sororities.
- rush week
- (US, dated, college slang) A perfect recitation.
- (croquet) A roquet in which the object ball is sent to a particular location on the lawn.
Derived terms
Derived terms
|
Translations
sudden forward motion
surge
haste
onslaught — see onslaught
sudden attack
act of running at another player
pleasurable sensation experienced after use of a stimulant
sudden, brief exhilaration
regulated period of recruitment in fraternities and sororities
Verb
rush (third-person singular simple present rushes, present participle rushing, simple past and past participle rushed)
- (transitive or intransitive) To hurry; to perform a task with great haste.
- rush one's dinner; rush off an email response
- Thomas Sprat (1635–1730)
- They […] never think it to be a part of religion to rush into the office of princes and ministers.
- 2013 August 16, John Vidal, “Dams endanger ecology of Himalayas”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 10, page 8:
- Most of the Himalayan rivers have been relatively untouched by dams near their sources. Now the two great Asian powers, India and China, are rushing to harness them as they cut through some of the world's deepest valleys.
- (intransitive) To flow or move forward rapidly or noisily.
- armies rush to battle; waters rush down a precipice.
- William Shakespeare (1564-1616)
- Like to an entered tide, they all rush by.
- 1892, James Yoxall, chapter 5, in The Lonely Pyramid:
- The desert storm was riding in its strength; the travellers lay beneath the mastery of the fell simoom. Whirling wreaths and columns of burning wind, rushed around and over them.
- (intransitive, soccer) To dribble rapidly.
- (transitive or intransitive, contact sports) To run directly at another player in order to block or disrupt play.
- (transitive) To cause to move or act with unusual haste.
- Don't rush your client or he may withdraw.
- (intransitive, military) To make a swift or sudden attack.
- (military) To swiftly attach to without warning.
- (transitive or intransitive, US, college) To attempt to join a fraternity or sorority; to undergo hazing or initiation in order to join a fraternity or sorority.
- (transitive) To transport or carry quickly.
- The shuttle rushes passengers from the station to the airport.
- (transitive or intransitive, croquet) To roquet an object ball to a particular location on the lawn.
- (US, slang, dated) To recite (a lesson) or pass (an examination) without an error.
Synonyms
- See also Wikisaurus:rush (hurry)
Translations
hurry
|
flow rapidly and often noisily
football: dribble rapidly
cause someone to act with unusual haste
perform something with great haste
|
|
attack swiftly and without warning to
|
American football: run directly at another player
Adjective
rush (not comparable)
Usage notes
Used only before a noun.