Obs. exc. dial. [Of uncertain origin; Topsell’s suggestion (quot. 1607) seems not impossible. It might be plausibly regarded as a subst. use of FRUSH a.; but that word has not been found earlier than the present century.] = FROG sb.2 Also (more fully running frush) a disease which attacks this part of a horse’s foot; thrush.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts (1658), 324. The frush is the tenderest part of the hoof towards the heel … and because it is fashioned like a forked head, the French men call it ‘Furchette’ which word our farriers … perhaps for easiness sake of pronuntiation, do make it a monosyllable, and pronounce it the ‘frush.’
1639. T. de Gray, Compl. Horseman, 9. Let her shooes be taken off, her feet pared well, the Frush and heeles opened.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, II. 152/2. The running of the Frush; which is a rotten corrupt humour, that comes out of the Leg [of a horse].
1725. Bradley, Fam. Dict., s.v. Hoof, When the Frush is broad, the Heels will be weak.
1737. H. Bracken, Farriery Impr. (1757), II. 32. A large Coronet is often accompanied with a tender Heel and running Frush.
1754. Dict. Arts & Sc., II. 1359/2. Frush, or Frog, among farriers, a sort of tender horn which arises in the middle of a horse’s sole; and, at some distance from the toe, divides into two branches, running towards the heel in the form of a fork.
1892. Northumbld. Gloss., Frush, the thrush, or tender part of a horse’s foot.
