Also 6 broshyng. [f. BRUSH v.1 or v.2 + -ING1.]
† 1. Cutting of brushwood, twigs, etc. Obs.
1513. MS. Acc. St. John’s Hosp. Canterb., For toppyng of xij treys & broshyng.
2. Sweeping or smoothing (as) with a brush.
c. 1460. J. Russell, Bk. Nurture (1868), 180. Ouer moche bruschynge werethe cloth lyghtly.
1851. H. Mayo, Pop. Superst. (ed. 2), 151. Transverse brushings with the hand.
1858. Glenny, Gard. Every-day Bk., 95/1. The Lawn now requires frequent brushing, rolling, and mowing.
3. attrib., as in brushing-table; also brushing-machine, a name applied to various contrivances acting as brushes for smoothing, dressing flax, etc.
1575. Richmond. Wills (1853), 246. Brusshinge stoule, one chyste, and one chare.
1610. Althorp MS., in Simpkinson, Washingtons, Introd. 3. A lowe bedsted … a brushing table. Ibid. (1624), 54. The nursery and brushing chamber.
