Also 4–5 brusche(n, brusshe. [Perh. identical with F. brosser intr. ‘to dash through dense underwood,’ said of a stag or a hunter, which Littré separates from brosser trans. ‘to brush,’ and refers immediately to brosse ‘brushwood.’ But it is possible that the Eng. word is onomatopœic, or that onomatopœia has affected its use: cf. rush and br- words like brast (burst), break, bruise. In modern use, also affected by BRUSH v.2, esp. in sense 4.]
† 1. intr. To rush with force or speed, usually into collision. Obs. exc. as influenced by BRUSH v.2: see quot. 1863 in 4.
a. 1400. Alexander, 963. And he halis furth on hede … Brusches doune by þe berne & bitterly wepis.
a. 1400[?]. Morte Arth., 3681. Than brothely they bekyre with boustouse tacle, Bruschese boldlye one burde.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 1192. Bothe batels on bent brusshet to-gedur. Ibid., 10969. Pantasilia … brusshet into batell.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, X. xiv. 192. Furth bruschit the sawle with gret stremys of blude.
1647. W. Browne, Polex., I. 78. For feare to brush at the iniquity of men, betray ye the cause of the gods?
a. 1650. in Furniv., Percy Folio, I. 388. His eares brushed out of blood.
† 2. trans. To force, or drive with a rush. Obs.
c. 1425. Wyntoun, Cron., VIII. xiii. 93 (Jam.). Wpe he stwrly bruschyd the dure, And laid it flatlyngis in the flure.
a. 1460. Play Sacrament, 649. Brushe them hens bothe & that anon.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, X. 28. Blud fra byrneis was bruschyt on the greyn.
3. intr. To burst away with a rush, move off abruptly, be gone, decamp, make off.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, Brush, to Fly or Run away.
1718. Prior, Poems, 63. Off they brush’d, both Foot and Horse.
1728. Vanbrugh & Cib., Prov. Husb., II. i. 48. I believe I had as good brush off.
1730. Fielding, Author’s Farce, I. vii. Come, Sir, will you please to brush?
1820. Byron, Morg. Mag., lxv. He brush’d apace On to the abbey.
1833. Ht. Martineau, Berkeley the Banker, I. viii. 154. Enoch brushed out of the door.
1842. Barham, Ingol. Leg. (1877), 204. And one Sergeant Matcham had brush’d with the dibs.
¶ Blending this with BRUSH v.2
4. intr. To move briskly by, through, or against anything, grazing it or sweeping it aside in passing.
1674. N. Fairfax, Bulk & Selv., 143. To brush through many atoms of room.
1712. Addison, Spect., No. 530, ¶ 1. A pretty young thing … brushing by me.
1723. Guardian, No. 163 (1756), II. 316. The servants … begin to brush very familiarly by me.
1821. Clare, Vill. Minstr., I. 13. Often brushing through the dripping grass.
a. 1845. Hood, 2 Peacocks of Belf., ii. They brush between the Churchyard’s humble walls.
1863. Geo. Eliot, Romola, III. xxv. He had brushed against a man whose face he had not stayed to recognise.
1885. Browning, Ferishtah, 9. Where dogs brush by thee and express contempt.
