Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
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adj
Not skilled; not professional; not major league.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: colloquial
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
adv
Towards the direction of the outback.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Australia, not-comparable
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
name
A surname from Middle English.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
name
A surname from Middle English.
George H. W. Bush, 41st president of the United States from 1989 to 1993
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: Bush 41, Poppy
Antonyms: none provided
name
A surname from Middle English.
George W. Bush, 43rd president of the United States from 2001 to 2009
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: Bush 43, Bushinator, Bushitler, Chimperor, Chimpy, Chimpy McFlightsuit, Chimpy McHalliburton, Chimpy McHitlerburton, Dubya, GW, GWB, Shrub, Shrubya
Antonyms: none provided
name
A place name:
A village in Williamson County, Illinois, United States; from the surname.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
name
A place name:
An unincorporated community in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, United States.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
name
A place name:
An unincorporated community in Thurston County, Washington, United States; from the surname.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
name
A place name:
A hamlet in Bude-Stratton parish, Cornwall, England (OS grid ref SS2307).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
name
A place name:
A hamlet in southern Aberdeenshire council area, Scotland (OS grid ref NO7665).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A woody plant distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and lower height, being usually less than six metres tall; a horticultural rather than strictly botanical category.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: agriculture, business, horticulture, lifestyle
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: shrub
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A shrub cut off, or a shrublike branch of a tree.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A thicket, a small wood, or a tract of uncleared, woody land.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic, dialectal
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A shrub or branch, properly, a branch of ivy (sacred to Bacchus), hung out at vintners' doors, or as a tavern sign; hence, a tavern sign, and symbolically, the tavern itself.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: historical
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A person's pubic hair, especially a woman's.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: slang, vulgar
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: bush, carpet, floss, fluff, forest, fur, fuzz, grass, growth, grove, lettuce, maidenhair, mound, muffin, nest, netherhair, pubes, rug, short and curlies, short hairs, shrubs, snatch, stuff, thatch
Antonyms: none provided
noun
The tail, or brush, of a fox.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: hobbies, hunting, lifestyle
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A tavern or wine merchant.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Tracts of land covered in natural vegetation that are largely undeveloped and uncultivated, typically distinguished from absolute wilderness by implying a degree of marginal human engagement or proximity to settlement edges.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Australia, Canada, New-Zealand, South-Africa, countable, often, uncountable
Qualifier: Alaska
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Tracts of land covered in natural vegetation that are largely undeveloped and uncultivated, typically distinguished from absolute wilderness by implying a degree of marginal human engagement or proximity to settlement edges.
The countryside area of Australia that is less arid and less remote than the outback; loosely, areas of natural flora even within conurbations.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Australia, Canada, New-Zealand, South-Africa, countable, often, uncountable
Qualifier: Alaska
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Tracts of land covered in natural vegetation that are largely undeveloped and uncultivated, typically distinguished from absolute wilderness by implying a degree of marginal human engagement or proximity to settlement edges.
An area of New Zealand covered in forest, especially native forest.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Australia, Canada, New-Zealand, South-Africa, countable, often, uncountable
Qualifier: Alaska
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Tracts of land covered in natural vegetation that are largely undeveloped and uncultivated, typically distinguished from absolute wilderness by implying a degree of marginal human engagement or proximity to settlement edges.
The wild forested areas of Canada; upcountry.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Australia, Canada, New-Zealand, South-Africa, countable, often, uncountable
Qualifier: Alaska
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A wood lot or bluff on a farm.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Canada, countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: bushlot
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Amateurish behavior, short for bush league behavior
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: ball-games, baseball, games, hobbies, lifestyle, sports
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A thick washer or hollow cylinder of metal.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A mechanical attachment, usually a metallic socket with a screw thread, such as the mechanism by which a camera is attached to a tripod stand.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A piece of copper, screwed into a gun, through which the venthole is bored.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To branch thickly in the manner of a bush.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To set bushes for; to support with bushes.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To use a bush harrow on (land), for covering seeds sown; to harrow with a bush.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To become bushy (often used with up).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To furnish with a bush or lining; to line.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
adjective satellite
not of the highest quality or sophistication
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: bush-league
Antonyms: none provided
noun
hair growing in the pubic area
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: pubic hair, crotch hair
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: hair
Narrower terms: minge
noun
dense vegetation consisting of stunted trees or bushes
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: scrub, chaparral
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: vegetation, flora, botany
noun
a large wilderness area
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: wilderness, wild
Narrower terms: outback
noun
vice president under Reagan and 41st President of the United States (born in 1924)
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: George Bush, George H.W. Bush, George Herbert Walker Bush, President Bush
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: President of the United States, United States President, President, Chief Executive
noun
United States electrical engineer who designed an early analogue computer and who led the scientific program of the United States during World War II (1890-1974)
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: Vannevar Bush
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: electrical engineer
noun
43rd President of the United States; son of George Herbert Walker Bush (born in 1946)
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: George Bush, George W. Bush, George Walker Bush, President Bush, President George W. Bush, Dubyuh, Dubya
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: President of the United States, United States President, President, Chief Executive
noun
a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: shrub
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: woody plant, ligneous plant
Narrower terms: Catha edulis, ephedra, joint fir, alpine totara, Podocarpus nivalis, Chilean rimu, Lepidothamnus fonkii, mountain rimu, Lepidothamnus laxifolius, Dacridium laxifolius, Tasman dwarf pine, Microstrobos niphophilus, barberry, blue cohosh, blueberry root, papooseroot, papoose root, squawroot, squaw root, Caulophyllum thalictrioides, Caulophyllum thalictroides, Oregon grape, Oregon holly grape, hollygrape, mountain grape, holly-leaves barberry, Mahonia aquifolium, Mahonia nervosa, allspice, Japan allspice, Japanese allspice, winter sweet, Chimonanthus praecox, spicebush, spice bush, American spicebush, Benjamin bush, Lindera benzoin, Benzoin odoriferum, pepper shrub, Pseudowintera colorata, Wintera colorata, sweet gale, Scotch gale, Myrica gale, wax myrtle, sweet fern, Comptonia peregrina, Comptonia asplenifolia, corkwood, corkwood tree, Leitneria floridana, mimosa, Anadenanthera colubrina, Piptadenia macrocarpa, calliandra, sabicu, Lysiloma sabicu, cat's-claw, catclaw, black bead, Pithecellodium unguis-cati, mesquite, mesquit, poison arrow plant, Acocanthera oblongifolia, Acocanthera spectabilis, bushman's poison, ordeal tree, Acocanthera oppositifolia, Acocanthera venenata, impala lily, mock azalia, desert rose, kudu lily, Adenium obesum, Adenium multiflorum, carissa, frangipani, frangipanni, rauwolfia, rauvolfia, strophanthus, crape jasmine, crepe jasmine, crepe gardenia, pinwheel flower, East Indian rosebay, Adam's apple, Nero's crown, coffee rose, Tabernaemontana divaricate, yellow oleander, Thevetia peruviana, Thevetia neriifolia, American angelica tree, devil's walking stick, Hercules'-club, Aralia spinosa, Japanese angelica tree, Aralia elata, Chinese angelica, Chinese angelica tree, Aralia stipulata, umbrella tree, Schefflera actinophylla, Brassaia actinophylla, saltwort, Batis maritima, saltbush, summer cypress, burning bush, fire bush, fire-bush, belvedere, Bassia scoparia, Kochia scoparia, winged pigweed, tumbleweed, Cycloloma atriplicifolium, barilla, glasswort, kali, kelpwort, Salsola kali, Salsola soda, Russian thistle, Russian tumbleweed, Russian cactus, Salsola kali tenuifolia, greasewood, black greasewood, Sarcobatus vermiculatus, caper, buckler mustard, Biscutalla laevigata, bush poppy, tree poppy, silversword, Argyroxiphium sandwicense, artemisia, groundsel tree, groundsel bush, consumption weed, cotton-seed tree, Baccharis halimifolia, mule fat, Baccharis viminea, coyote brush, coyote bush, chaparral broom, kidney wort, Baccharis pilularis, goldenbush, hoary golden bush, Hazardia cana, mutisia, daisybush, daisy-bush, daisy bush, othonna, lavender cotton, Santolina chamaecyparissus, dusty miller, Senecio cineraria, Cineraria maritima, sow thistle, milk thistle, coralberry, spiceberry, Ardisia crenata, marlberry, Ardisia escallonoides, Ardisia paniculata, leadwort, Plumbago europaea, bracelet wood, Jacquinia armillaris, barbasco, joewood, Jacquinia keyensis, mallow, cotton, cotton plant, tree mallow, velvetleaf, velvet-leaf, Lavatera arborea, pavonia, bush hibiscus, Radyera farragei, Hibiscus farragei, makomako, New Zealand wine berry, wineberry, Aristotelia serrata, Aristotelia racemosa, dombeya, flannelbush, flannel bush, California beauty, screw tree, honey bell, honeybells, Hermannia verticillata, Mahernia verticillata, phalsa, Grewia asiatica, African hemp, Sparmannia africana, protea, banksia, smoke bush, Chilean firebush, Chilean flameflower, Embothrium coccineum, Chilean nut, Chile nut, Chile hazel, Chilean hazelnut, Guevina heterophylla, Guevina avellana, grevillea, cushion flower, pincushion hakea, Hakea laurina, needlewood, needle-wood, needle wood, Hakea leucoptera, needlebush, needle-bush, needle bush, Hakea lissosperma, honeyflower, honey-flower, mountain devil, Lambertia formosa, lomatia, geebung, waratah, Telopea Oreades, Telopea speciosissima, native pear, woody pear, Xylomelum pyriforme, heath, andromeda, arbutus, bearberry, manzanita, bryanthus, leatherleaf, Chamaedaphne calyculata, trailing arbutus, mayflower, Epigaea repens, salal, shallon, Gaultheria shallon, huckleberry, kalmia, Labrador tea, crystal tea, Ledum groenlandicum, trapper's tea, glandular Labrador tea, wild rosemary, marsh tea, Ledum palustre, sand myrtle, Leiophyllum buxifolium, leucothoe, dog laurel, dog hobble, switch-ivy, Leucothoe fontanesiana, Leucothoe editorum, sweet bells, Leucothoe racemosa, alpine azalea, mountain azalea, Loiseleuria procumbens, staggerbush, stagger bush, Lyonia mariana, maleberry, male berry, privet andromeda, he-huckleberry, Lyonia ligustrina, fetterbush, fetter bush, shiny lyonia, Lyonia lucida, false azalea, fool's huckleberry, Menziesia ferruginea, minniebush, minnie bush, Menziesia pilosa, Japanese andromeda, lily-of-the-valley tree, Pieris japonica, mountain fetterbush, mountain andromeda, Pieris floribunda, rhododendron, cranberry, blueberry, blueberry bush, sweet pepperbush, pepper bush, summer sweet, white alder, Clethra alnifolia, pyxie, pixie, pixy, Pyxidanthera barbulata, Australian heath, native cranberry, groundberry, ground-berry, cranberry heath, Astroloma humifusum, Styphelia humifusum, pink fivecorner, Styphelia triflora, dwarf golden chinkapin, Chrysolepis sempervirens, huckleberry oak, Quercus vaccinifolia, forestiera, forsythia, jasmine, privet, mock privet, lilac, witch hazel, witch hazel plant, wych hazel, wych hazel plant, winter hazel, flowering hazel, fothergilla, witch alder, hiccup nut, hiccough nut, Combretum bracteosum, oleaster, crape myrtle, crepe myrtle, crepe flower, Lagerstroemia indica, feijoa, feijoa bush, fuchsia, daphne, leatherwood, moosewood, moose-wood, wicopy, ropebark, Dirca palustris, Indian rhododendron, Melastoma malabathricum, Medinilla magnifica, guinea gold vine, guinea flower, wild cinnamon, white cinnamon tree, Canella winterana, Canella-alba, rockrose, rock rose, helianthemum, sunrose, sun rose, governor's plum, governor plum, Madagascar plum, ramontchi, batoko palm, Flacourtia indica, kei apple, kei apple bush, Dovyalis caffra, wild peach, Kiggelaria africana, xylosma, Xylosma congestum, candlewood, bird's-eye bush, Ochna serrulata, tamarisk, false tamarisk, German tamarisk, Myricaria germanica, cannabis, hemp, butcher's broom, Ruscus aculeatus, ti, Cordyline terminalis, yucca, butterfly bush, buddleia, Mysore thorn, Caesalpinia decapetala, Caesalpinia sepiaria, butterfly flower, Bauhinia monandra, paloverde, Jerusalem thorn, horsebean, Parkinsonia aculeata, Dalmatian laburnum, Petteria ramentacea, Cytisus ramentaceus, senna, amorpha, bean trefoil, stinking bean trefoil, Anagyris foetida, Jupiter's beard, silverbush, silver-bush, Anthyllis barba-jovis, rooibos, Aspalathus linearis, Aspalathus cedcarbergensis, pigeon pea, pigeon-pea plant, cajan pea, catjang pea, red gram, dhal, dahl, Cajanus cajan, pea tree, caragana, western redbud, California redbud, Cercis occidentalis, tagasaste, Chamaecytisus palmensis, Cytesis proliferus, flame pea, glory pea, clianthus, telegraph plant, semaphore plant, Codariocalyx motorius, Desmodium motorium, Desmodium gyrans, bladder senna, Colutea arborescens, coronilla, broom, smoke tree, Dalea spinosa, bitter pea, derris, poison bush, poison pea, gastrolobium, chanar, chanal, Geoffroea decorticans, salt tree, Halimodendron halodendron, Halimodendron argenteum, hovea, purple pea, indigo, indigo plant, Indigofera tinctoria, tree lupine, Lupinus arboreus, mucuna, chaparral pea, stingaree-bush, Pickeringia montana, flat pea, Platylobium formosum, common flat pea, native holly, Playlobium obtusangulum, retem, raetam, juniper bush, juniper, Retama raetam, Genista raetam, bristly locust, rose acacia, moss locust, Robinia hispida, coral bush, flame bush, Templetonia retusa, gorse, furze, whin, Irish gorse, Ulex europaeus, swamp oak, Viminaria juncea, Viminaria denudata, rose, rosebush, Juneberry, serviceberry, service tree, shadbush, shadblow, flowering quince, cotoneaster, hawthorn, haw, toyon, tollon, Christmasberry, Christmas berry, Heteromeles arbutifolia, Photinia arbutifolia, cinquefoil, five-finger, cherry laurel, laurel cherry, Prunus laurocerasus, sand cherry, Prunus pumila, Prunus pumilla susquehanae, Prunus susquehanae, Prunus cuneata, blackthorn, sloe, Prunus spinosa, Pyracantha, pyracanth, fire thorn, firethorn, spirea, spiraea, blolly, West Indian snowberry, Chiococca alba, gardenia, hamelia, fever tree, Georgia bark, bitter-bark, Pinckneya pubens, negro peach, Sarcocephalus latifolius, Sarcocephalus esculentus, abelia, bush honeysuckle, Diervilla lonicera, Diervilla sessilifolia, beauty bush, Kolkwitzia amabilis, Himalaya honeysuckle, Leycesteria formosa, honeysuckle, Indian currant, Symphoricarpos orbiculatus, elder, elderberry bush, cranberry bush, cranberry tree, American cranberry bush, highbush cranberry, Viburnum trilobum, wayfaring tree, twist wood, twistwood, Viburnum lantana, guelder rose, European cranberrybush, European cranberry bush, crampbark, Viburnum opulus, arrow wood, southern arrow wood, Viburnum dentatum, Viburnum recognitum, black haw, Viburnum prunifolium, weigela, Weigela florida, Erythroxylon coca, coca, coca plant, Erythroxylon truxiuense, bean caper, Syrian bean caper, Zygophyllum fabago, creosote bush, coville, hediondilla, Larrea tridentata, box, boxwood, staff tree, spindle tree, spindleberry, spindleberry tree, wahoo, Euonymus atropurpureus, strawberry bush, Euonymus americanus, cyrilla, white titi, Cyrilla racemiflora, crowberry, Chinese holly, Ilex cornuta, laurel sumac, Malosma laurina, Rhus laurina, mastic, mastic tree, lentisk, Pistacia lentiscus, sumac, sumach, shumac, buckthorn, styrax, hydrangea, philadelphus, climbing hydrangea, Schizophragma hydrangeoides, bridal wreath, bridal-wreath, Francoa ramosa, currant, currant bush, gooseberry, gooseberry bush, Ribes uva-crispa, Ribes grossularia, caricature plant, Graptophyllum pictum, desert willow, Chilopsis linearis, columnea, yerba santa, Eriodictyon californicum, Apalachicola rosemary, Conradina glabra, lavender, pitcher sage, Lepechinia calycina, Sphacele calycina, patchouli, patchouly, pachouli, Pogostemon cablin, red shrubby penstemon, redwood penstemon, naranjilla, Solanum quitoense, potato tree, Brazilian potato tree, Solanum wrightii, Solanum macranthum, lady-of-the-night, Brunfelsia americana, angel's trumpet, maikoa, Brugmansia arborea, Datura arborea, Brugmansia suaveolens, Datura suaveolens, red angel's trumpet, Brugmansia sanguinea, Datura sanguinea, capsicum, pepper, capsicum pepper plant, day jessamine, Cestrum diurnum, night jasmine, night jessamine, Cestrum nocturnum, tree tomato, tamarillo, thorn apple, pichi, Fabiana imbricata, matrimony vine, boxthorn, Lycium carolinianum, chalice vine, trumpet flower, cupflower, Solandra guttata, marmalade bush, Streptosolen jamesonii, spurge, three-seeded mercury, Acalypha virginica, croton, Croton tiglium, Codiaeum variegatum, castor-oil plant, castor bean plant, palma christi, palma christ, Ricinus communis, cassava, casava, slipper spurge, slipper plant, camellia, camelia, tea, Camellia sinensis, sea holly, sea holm, sea eryngium, Eryngium maritimum, puka, Griselinia lucida, kapuka, Griselinia littoralis, undershrub, shrublet, subshrub, suffrutex, flowering shrub, jujube, jujube bush, Christ's-thorn, Ziziphus jujuba, lotus tree, Ziziphus lotus, Paliurus spina-christi, stephanotis
verb
provide with a bushing
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: supply, provide, render, furnish
History
Back-formation from bush league.
A semantic expansion of bush (see Etymology 1, archaic and dialectal sense of “thicket” or “small wood”), which survived in English dialects and London‐area toponyms (such as Shepherd’s Bush). In its native English form, the term inherently denoted a scrubby, localized feature. In British colonies, this specific sense was applied to the broader landscape, evolving into a mass noun for the wilderness. This development was likely reinforced by, or originated as a semantic loan from, the cognate older Dutch bosch (modern bos (“wood, forest”)), which had undergone a similar semantic shift in the Dutch settlements of North America (such as New Netherland) and later the Cape Colony. From the North American Dutch loan, English acquired the concept of “the bush” as a vast, untamed wilderness. Evidence of this early linguistic integration appears in late 17th‐century English records via compound calques from both major Dutch contact zones: the 1695 North American use of “bushloopers” (anglicized from Dutch boschlooper (“woods‐runner”)) and the 1699 Cape Colony reference to “Wild‐bush‐Men” (translating Cape Dutch Bosjesman). However, as an independent topographical noun describing the South African landscape, the English term is not securely attested until circa 1780. In Australian English, the term was used as early as 1790 by First Lieutenant Ralph Clark. As a native of Edinburgh, Clark would have been familiar with the Scots cognates buss and bush (retaining the archaic sense of a wood or clump of trees); this native linguistic framework likely made him highly receptive to the broader Dutch usage he encountered during his prior military service in the Netherlands and North America. Australia served as the crucible where these semantic threads merged. The widely spaced, scrubby eucalypt woodlands perfectly matched the native British English visual of a low‐canopied thicket, while their vastness fulfilled the Dutch concept of an untamed expanse. This convergence caused the term to rapidly supplant the traditional English woods and forest, as the open Australian landscape differed markedly from the dense, deciduous canopies of Europe. Via early 19th‐century trans‐Tasman trade and settlement routes out of New South Wales, the term was subsequently exported to New Zealand, where it was applied to the region’s dense, temperate rainforests. The adverbial usage of the term (dropping the preposition and article, as in go bush or head bush) likely originated in early 19th‐century New South Wales Pidgin. As documented by contact linguists, this syntax reflects typical pidginization (preposition deletion) alongside the substrate influence of Indigenous Australian languages, which frequently utilize absolute locatives or directional adverbs rather than prepositions for spatial movement. From this contact language, the grammatical shorthand permeated the broader colonial vernacular.
Either the family name for those who live near a bush or a thicket of bushes, or the family name for those living at or near a bush (in the archaic sense of wine merchant or tavern).
From Middle English bush, from Old English *busċ, *bysċ (“copse, grove, scrub”, in placenames), from Proto-West Germanic *busk, from Proto-Germanic *buskaz (“bush, thicket”), probably from Proto-Indo-European *bhuH- (“to grow”). Doublet of bosque. Cognates Cognate with Saterland Frisian Busk (“bush”), West Frisian bosk (“forest”), Dutch bos (“forest, wood”), German Busch (“bush, shrub; small forest, grove”), Luxembourgish Bësch (“forest, wood”), Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, and Norwegian Nynorsk busk (“bush, shrub”), Icelandic buski (“bush, shrub”), Swedish buske (“bush, shrub”), Persian بیشه (bêša/biše, “woods”). Latin and Romance forms (Latin boscus, Occitan bòsc, French bois, bûche and buisson, Italian bosco and boscaglia, Spanish bosque, Portuguese bosque) derive from the Germanic. Compare typologically Russian за́росли (zárosli) (akin to расти́ (rastí)). Also compare Russian быльё (bylʹjó) (distantly cognate via *bhuH-).
From the sign of a bush usually employed to indicate such places.
From Middle Dutch busse (“box; wheel bushing”), from Proto-West Germanic *buhsā. More at box.
Across languages
222 source translations are retained for this English entry.
