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The Collaborative International Dictionary
Potamochoerus Africanus

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.

    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.

  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.
    --Shak.

  5. (Hunting) The tail, or brush, of a fox.

    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.