I. ˈbrəsh noun
Etymology: Middle English brusch, from an Anglo-French form akin to Old French broce brushwood, Medieval Latin brusca
Date: 14th century
1. : brushwood
2.
a. : scrub vegetation
b. : land covered with scrub vegetation
II. noun
Etymology: Middle English brusshe, from an Anglo-French form akin to Middle French broisse
Date: 14th century
1. : a device composed of bristles typically set into a handle and used especially for sweeping, smoothing, scrubbing, or painting
2. : something resembling a brush: as
a. : a bushy tail
b. : a feather tuft worn on a hat
3. : an electrical conductor that makes sliding contact between a stationary and a moving part (as of a generator or a motor)
4.
a. : an act of brushing
b. : a quick light touch or momentary contact in passing
III. transitive verb
Date: 15th century
1.
a. : to apply a brush to
b. : to apply with a brush
2.
a. : to remove with passing strokes (as of a brush)
b. : to dispose of in an offhand way : dismiss
brush ed him off
3. : to pass lightly over or across : touch gently against in passing
• brush·er noun
IV. noun
Etymology: Middle English brusche rush, hostile collision, from bruschen
Date: 14th century
: a brief encounter or skirmish
a brush with disaster
a brush with the law
V. intransitive verb
Etymology: Middle English bruschen to rush, probably from Middle French brosser to dash through underbrush, from broce
Date: 1674
: to move lightly or heedlessly
brush ed past the well-wishers waiting to greet him