subs. (old).—1. A hasty departure. As verb = to run away; to decamp: also TO BRUSH OFF: see BRUSHER.
c. 1696. B. E., A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew. BRUSH, c. to Fly or Run away. The CULLY IS BRUSHT OR RUB’D, c. the Fellow is march’d off, or Broke. BOUGHT A BRUSH, c. Run away.
1706. E. COLES, English Dictionary. BRUSH, c. run away.
1726. VANBRUGH, The Provoked Husband, ii. I don’t like his looks … I believe I had as good BRUSH OFF.
1750. FIELDING, Tom Jones, VIII., xii. I reminded him, not without blushing, of my having no money. He answered, ‘That signifies nothing, score it behind the door, or make a bold BRUSH, and take no notice.’
1764. A. MURPHY, No One’s Enemy but his Own, ii. Rascal, says my Master, do as I bid you, and so off he BRUSHED to the tune of an old song.
1776. FOOTE, The Bankrupt, I. But I must BRUSH OFF, for here comes my lady.
1809. MALKIN, Gil Blas [ROUTLEDGE], 136. The old lady BRUSHED OFF to go and usher him in.
1837. R. H. BARHAM, The Ingoldsby Legends (The Dead Drummer).
| One of their drummers, and one Sergeant Matcham, | |
| Had BRUSH’D with the dibs, and they never could catch ’em. |
2. (old).—A person who decamps hastily; one who evades his creditors.
1748. T. DYCHE, A New General English Dictionary (5 ed.). BRUSH (v.) … also a canting term for one who goes off privately, or runs away from his creditors, or with stolen goods.
3. (old).—An encounter: either a heated argument, bout of fisticuffs; or skirmish: e.g., a BRUSH with the enemy.
1749. SMOLLETT, Gil Blas (1812), VII, vii. Scarce … time to sit before we began to chatter. We had a severe BRUSH … questions and replies succeeding one another with surprising volubility.
Verb. (common).—1. To flog; to thrash: e.g., to BRUSH one’s jacket: see DUST, TAN, etc.: see BRUSHER.
KNIGHT OF THE BRUSH, subs. phr. (common).—(1) An artist; (2) a house-painter: see BROTHER.
1785. WOLCOT (‘Peter Pindar’), Ode to R. A.’s, ii., Wks. (1812) I., 80. Tagrags and bobtails of the sacred BRUSH!
1885. JOHN COLEMAN, in Longman’s Magazine, vii. 78. Occasionally however, the author has his nose put out of joint by the scene-painter. I once heard a distinguished KNIGHT OF THE BRUSH exclaim …
TO BRUSH UP, verb. phr. (common).—To humbug; to flatter: e.g., TO BRUSH UP A FLAT = to cajole a victim; TO LAY IT ON THICK (q.v.); TO SOFT-SOAP (q.v.).
