Rush \Rush\, n. [OE. rusche, rische, resche, AS. risce, akin to
LG. rusk, risch, D. & G. rusch; all probably fr. L. ruscum
butcher's broom; akin to Goth. raus reed, G. rohr.]
1. (Bot.) A name given to many aquatic or marsh-growing
endogenous plants with soft, slender stems, as the species
of Juncus and Scirpus.
Note: Some species are used in bottoming chairs and plaiting
mats, and the pith is used in some places for wicks to
lamps and rushlights.
2. The merest trifle; a straw.
John Bull's friendship is not worth a rush.
--Arbuthnot.
Bog rush. See under Bog.
Club rush, any rush of the genus Scirpus.
Flowering rush. See under Flowering.
Nut rush
(a) Any plant of the genus Scleria, rushlike plants with
hard nutlike fruits.
(b) A name for several species of Cyperus having
tuberous roots.
Rush broom, an Australian leguminous plant ({Viminaria
denudata), having long, slender branches. Also, the
Spanish broom. See under Spanish.
Rush candle, See under Candle.
Rush grass, any grass of the genus Vilfa, grasses with
wiry stems and one-flowered spikelets.
Rush toad (Zo["o]l.), the natterjack.
Scouring rush. (Bot.) Same as Dutch rush, under Dutch.
Spike rush, any rushlike plant of the genus Eleocharis,
in which the flowers grow in dense spikes.
Sweet rush, a sweet-scented grass of Arabia, etc.
({Andropogon sch[oe]nanthus), used in Oriental medical
practice.
Wood rush, any plant of the genus Luzula, which differs
in some technical characters from Juncus.
Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
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Scour \Scour\ (skour), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Scoured; p. pr. &
vb. n. Scouring.] [Akin to LG. sch["u]ren, D. schuren,
schueren, G. scheuern, Dan. skure; Sw. skura; all possibly
fr. LL. escurare, fr. L. ex _ curare to take care. Cf.
Cure.]
1. To rub hard with something rough, as sand or Bristol
brick, especially for the purpose of cleaning; to clean by
friction; to make clean or bright; to cleanse from grease,
dirt, etc., as articles of dress.
2. To purge; as, to scour a horse.
3. To remove by rubbing or cleansing; to sweep along or off;
to carry away or remove, as by a current of water; --
often with off or away.
[I will] stain my favors in a bloody mask, Which,
washed away, shall scour my shame with it. --Shak.
4. [Perhaps a different word; cf. OF. escorre, escourre, It.
scorrere, both fr. L. excurrere to run forth. Cf.
Excursion.] To pass swiftly over; to brush along; to
traverse or search thoroughly; as, to scour the coast.
Not so when swift Camilla scours the plain. --Pope.
Scouring barrel, a tumbling barrel. See under Tumbling.
Scouring cinder (Metal.), a basic slag, which attacks the
lining of a shaft furnace. --Raymond.
Scouring rush. (Bot.) See Dutch rush, under Dutch.
Scouring stock (Woolen Manuf.), a kind of fulling mill.
Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
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Dutch oven, a tin screen for baking before an open fire or
kitchen range; also, in the United States, a shallow iron
kettle for baking, with a cover to hold burning coals.
Dutch pink, chalk, or whiting dyed yellow, and used in
distemper, and for paper staining. etc. --Weale.
Dutch rush (Bot.), a species of horsetail rush or Equisetum
({E. hyemale) having a rough, siliceous surface, and used
for scouring and polishing; -- called also scouring
rush, and shave grass. See Equisetum.
Dutch tile, a glazed and painted ornamental tile, formerly
much exported, and used in the jambs of chimneys and the
like.
Note: Dutch was formerly used for German.
Germany is slandered to have sent none to this
war [the Crusades] at this first voyage; and that
other pilgrims, passing through that country,
were mocked by the Dutch, and called fools for
their pains. --Fuller.
Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
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Equisetum \Eq`ui*se"tum\, n.; pl. Equiseta. [L., the
horsetail, fr. equus horse _ seta a thick,, stiff hair,
bristle.] (Bot.)
A genus of vascular, cryptogamic, herbaceous plants; -- also
called horsetails.
Note: The Equiseta have hollow jointed stems and no true
leaves. The cuticle often contains siliceous granules,
so that one species ({E. hyemale) is used for scouring
and polishing, under the name of Dutch rush or
scouring rush.
Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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