Forms: 4 bussche-, busse-, buysche-, buche-, buchy-, 4–6 busch(e)-, busshe-, (5 bussh-), 5–6 bushe-, 6 bus-, 5– bushment. [In senses 1–3, an aphetic form of ABUSHMENT, AMBUSHMENT, q.v. In some early quotations it is difficult to know whether abushment or a bushment was intended. In sense 4, cf. BUSH sb.1 + -MENT.]

1

  1.  = AMBUSHMENT 1. arch.

2

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, VIII. 442. A buschement slely maid he thair.

3

1393.  Gower, Conf., I. 349. And of his men a great partie He made in busshement abide.

4

c. 1440.  Generydes, II. 5977. In a buschement he layde his men eche on.

5

1485.  Caxton, Chas. Gt., 133. Your peple that shal be hydde in the busshement.

6

1553.  Brende, Q. Curtius, III. D ij. For feare the enemyes should lye there in busshement.

7

1592.  Wyrley, Armorie, 86. Two Gascoin Lords warie bushment make.

8

1870.  Morris, Earthly Par., I. I. 54. The barbarous folk Once and again from bushments on us broke.

9

  † 2.  = AMBUSHMENT 2. Obs.

10

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 13014. A busshement of bold men breke hym vpon.

11

c. 1465.  Eng. Chron. (1856), 48. In the way as he sholde go, lay a greet busshement of Frensshemenne to take him.

12

a. 1550.  Christis Kirke Gr., xix. The buschment haill about him brak, An bickert him with bows.

13

  † 3.  A surprise party; = AMBUSHMENT 3. Obs.

14

1513.  More, Rich. III. (1557), 64/2. A bushement of the dukes seruantes … began sodainely at mannes backes to crye owte as lowde as their throtes would gyve: King Rycharde.

15

1536.  Bellenden, Cron. Scot., I. 144. Galdus assemblit ane army … and dividit the same in divers buschementis.

16

1549.  Latimer, Serm. bef. Edw. VI. (Arb.), 187. Iudas also when he came wyth bushementes to take his maister Christe.

17

  4.  ‘A thicket, a cluster of bushes’ (J.); a mass of bushes. ? Obs.

18

1586.  J. Hooker, Girald. Irel., II. 169/2. The sides are full of great and mightie trees vpon the sides of the hils, and full of bushments and vnderwoods.

19

1614.  Raleigh, Hist. World, I. viii. § 2. 111. These our grounds would … be covered, either with Woods, or with other offensive Thickets and Bushments.

20

1619.  W. Sclater, Expos. 1 Thess. (1630), 62. These thickets of bushment.

21

1762.  Dunn, in Phil. Trans., LII. 466. The most distant trees and bushments.

22

  † b.  A bushy formation (of plumage). Obs.

23

1555.  Eden, Decades W. Ind. (Arb.), 224. These byrdes … haue a much greater bushement of fethers.

24