Rush

Source : Wright, Joseph English Dialect Dictionary web : https://eddonline4-proj.uibk.ac.at/edd/main.html

RUSH, sb.1 and v.1 Var. dial. forms and uses in Sc. Irel. and Eng. [ruʃ, rɐʃ, reʃ, riʃ.] I. Dial. forms: (1) Rash, (2) Rasher, (3) Rashor, (4) Reash, (5) Reesh, (6) Reish, (7) Resh, (8) Resher, (9) Reysh, (10) Rish, (11) Rus, (12) Rusher, (13) Rusk. [For further examples see II. below.] (1) Sc. Better nae ring nor the ring of a rash, Ferguson Prov. (1641) No. 190; Common throughout Sc. (J.W.) Nhb.1, Lakel.1, Cum.1 Cum.4 (2) N.Cy.1, Nhb.1, Nhp.1 (3) Nhb. Chater Tyneside Alm. (1869) 31. (4) n.Yks.4 (5) n.Yks.4, e.Lan.1 (6) Wm. Thear wod be lile for th' reishes to grow in, Briggs Remains (1825) 138. (7) Sc. Garden Wk. (1896) No. cxv. 100. N.Cy.1, Dur.1, w.Dur.1, Cum.1 Cum.4 Wm. [The housekeeper] was on maken resh cannels, Whitehead Leg. (1859) 6. n.Yks.1 n.Yks.2 e.Yks. Marshall Rur. Econ. (1788). (8) N.Cy.1, Nhb.1 (9) Wm. Clarke T'Reysh Beearin (1868). (10) w.Ir. I... was peepin' out iv a turf o' rishes, Lover Leg. (1848) I. 213. Wmh. (E.M.) Tip. Laid it down among the rishes, Kickham Knocknagow, 276. w.Yks.1, Chs.1 Chs.2 Chs.3 Ken.1 There be lots o' rishes in them there meyshes. Hmp.1, w.Som.1, Cor.1 Cor.2 (11) Cum.1 Cum.4 (s.v. Seeve.) (12) Nhb.1 (13) Cum.1 Cum.4 (s.v. Seeve.) II. Dial. uses. 1. sb. In comb. (1) Rush-bearer, one who carries rushes to the church at the ‘Rush-bearing’; (2) Rush-bearing, obsol., (a) an annual ceremony of carrying rushes and garlands to the church; see below; (b) an offering of rushes brought to the church at the ‘Rush-bearing’; (3) Rush-bearing Sunday, a Sunday on which the ‘Rush-bearing’ is held; (4) Rush-bent, a rush-stalk; (5) Rush-bonnet, a cap made of rushes; (6) Rush-bowts, see below; (7) Rush-bush, a clump of rushes; also used fig.; (8) Rush-candle, obs., a rushlight, a candle made by dipping a rush in tallow; (9) Rush-cane, a bulrush; (10) Rush-cap, (a) see (5); (b) the reed-bunting, Emberiza schoeniclus; (c) the marsh titmouse, Parus palustris; (11) Rush-cart, a cart decorated with rushes, used at the ‘Rush-bearing’; see below; (12) Rush-dip, see (8); (13) Rush-grown, tapering like a rush; (14) Rush-hat, a hat made of rushes; (15) Rush-mill, a toy in the form of a mill, made of rushes; (16) Rush-pyddle, a bag-net of rushes for catching fish; (17) Rush-rope, rope made of rushes; (18) Rush-stand, an iron stand used for holding rushlights; (19) Rush-tow, see (17); (20) Rush-whip, a whip made of rushes. (1) Wm. Probably in former days the rush-bearers were men and women, Graphic (June 22, 1889) 682. (2, a) n.Cy. Grose (1790). Lakel.1 The annual custom in northern parishes still kept up at Ambleside and elsewhere in Wm. of collecting flowers and rushes, and walking in procession to spread them on the floor of the parish church, where they remained as a covering for the whole year. The young girls generally took a part in this. Cum.4 ‘What's rush-bearing?’ ‘Rush-bearing ─ the barn's rush-bearing ─ St. Peter's Day,’ Caine Hagar (1887) III. 78. Wm. Grasmere Rushbearing. This annual celebration took place on Saturday... The garlands were not so numerous or so lavishly dressed with flowers as usual, but there were about a hundred of them, and when arranged round the churchyard wall they looked very pretty. In this position the garlands were left while the children were being regaled with tea... At 6.30 they were again claimed, and carried in procession round the village... Returning to the church the garlands were arranged round the interior,.. and the wreaths hung upon the walls. Evening service then took place, and the hymns for the rushbearers and S. Oswald used. Service over, each rushbearer received the customary present of two pennyworth of gingerbread, Carlisle Patriot (Aug. 17, 1888); Still continued in many churches... It takes place in the month of July, Wordsworth Eccl. Sonnets (1822) pt. iii. son. 32, note. w.Yks. Hutton Tour to Caves (1781); w.Yks.1 On the eve of the Saint, to whom the church was dedicated, it was usual for the parishioners to carry a quantity of rushes, with which to strew the floors of the churches or chapels, which formerly were nothing but common earth. Garlands of flowers were also carried at the same time and hung up till the next yearly festival. This ancient custom is now become nearly obs.; w.Yks.3 An Almondbury feast which occurs on the first Monday in August. In former times... a rush-cart was drawn through the town and on the cart were displayed such articles of silver as the neighbours would lend for the purpose; the cart too was attended by persons who danced as it was drawn along. The festival is still kept, but shorn of this observance... There was never much to do on the Monday till after the Reform Bill was passed; previously it was all on the Saturday from four till bed-time or so. Lan. Harland & Wilkinson Flk-Lore (1867) 99; Lan.1, ne.Lan.1 e.Lan.1 An annual rustic festival celebrated by sports and all the concomitants of a fair; a cart ornamentally heaped with rushes, and drawn by men gaily dressed, being the principal attraction. s.Lan.1 An old ceremony which usually takes place concurrently with the village ‘wakes’ or feasts. It had its origin in the long-disused practice of strewing the floors of churches with rushes... In later years it became merely a secular pageant... The rushes are piled on a gaily-decorated cart and carried about, accompanied by a band of music. flags, and banners, and a company of morris-dancers. Chs. (F.R.C.); Well known at Runcorn and Warburton (W.W.S.) Chs.1 Formerly the rushes were strewed on the floor, presumably for the purposes of warmth; but now the custom takes the form of decorating the walls of the church with flowers and rushes, and laying rushes on the graves of departed friends; hence the custom has also been called Rush-burying; Chs.3 (b) Wm. The ‘rush-bearings,’ decorated with flowers, and in the shapes of shepherds' crooks or crosses, and brought into the church by a procession of children, and laid on boards along the edges of the pews, Graphic (June 22, 1889) 682. (3) Lan. Awd berrid t'wife on Friday ofore Rushbearin Sundi, Scholes Abrum o' Flup's Quortin (1886) 4. (4) Nhp.2 (5) Gall. Mactaggart Encycl. (1824). (6) Lan.1 s.Lan. Rush-bowts are small bundles of the largest and most perfect rushes, bound together and cut evenly, and placed in the front and at the back of the rush-cart, so as to form a spade-shaped arch at each place (S.B.). (7) Frf. Frae me ye gat a fright, When a rash bush stood i' your sight, Morison Poems (1790) 36. s.Sc. Where flourished the rash-bush down i' yon howe, Watson Bards (1859) 6. Ayr. Ye, like a rash-buss, stood in sight, Wi' waving sugh, Burns Address to Deil (1785) st. 7. Slk. The prayers out among the hags and rash-bushes did me no harm, Hogg Tales (1838) 9, ed. 1866. Gall. Mactaggart Encycl. (1824). Don. Sailors, an' for all who are at say on the ocean with no rush-bush to hould by when storms come up, MacManus Bend of Road (1898) 149. w.Yks.2 A rabbit jumped out of a rush busk. (8) sw.Ir. Joan... spares the rush candles on us; ... we go early to bed, Barry Wizard's Knot (1901) 32. Wm. Whitehead Leg. (1859) 5, ed. 1896. Dev. He pictured her knitting placidly by the light of a rush candle, Mortimer Tales Moors (1895) 119. (9) Hmp. (W.M.E.F.) (10, a) N.Cy.1, Nhb.1 {b, c) Nhb.1 (11) w.Yks.3 Formerly a rush cart was drawn through the town, and on the cart were displayed such articles of silver as the neighbours would lend for the purpose; the cart too was attended by persons who danced as it was drawn along. Lan. It was the glory of Rochdale to assemble at its rushbearing forty years ago at least eight and sometimes a dozen rush-carts, Kay-Shuttleworth Scarsdale (1860) I. 202; Lan.1 s.Lan.1 The rushes, tied up in ‘bolts,’ are piled up on the cart, and the whole is adorned with ribbons, garlands, and glittering objects... It is dragged along the streets by gaily attired young men who are called ‘waguers,’ and pushed behind by others who are called ‘thrutchers.’ Chs.3 The rush cart, most artistically and curiously filled and ornamented with rushes, and drawn by four grey horses, went the round of the parish, with a noisy attendance, like morris dancers; one man dressed up like a woman, having an immense wooden spoon. Like many other English merrymakings, it unfortunately degenerated into a noisy drinking-bout. nw.Der.1 (12) Ant. Herself 'ud take the rush-dip an' light it for us all, O'Neill Glens (1900) 47. (13) w.Yks.1 (14) Ayr. His grim rush-hat trembled in the gale, Ochiltree Out of her Shroud (1897) 339. (15) n.Sc. We saw his sheep thrang nibblin on the height, Him near the burn, wi' willow-shaded linn, Dammin' the gush, to gar his rash-mill rin, Tarras Poems (1804) i (Jam.). (16) Gall. Mactaggart Encycl. (1824). (17) Lnk. He... sometimes had ae gartan, a lingle or rash-rape was good enough for Sawny, Graham Writings (1883) II. 49. (18) Lakel.1, Cum.4 w.Yks. There was formerly in use in Nidderdale a rush stand, Lucas Stud. Nidderdale (c. 1882) 27. (19) Rnf. The rushes preceded tow ropes, and often superseded the saddler ─ the ‘rash towes’ being used as horse harness, and applied to many other useful purposes, Hector Judic. Records (1876) 118. (20) N.Cy.1, Nhb.1 2. The pith of a rush prepared as a wick for an oil-lamp. Cai.1 3. Var. species of sedge, Carex. Suf. (B. & H.) 4. A list; a number made at playing at ball, &c., for another to beat; a course. Cor. Satchell Flk-Lore Rec. (1879) II. 203; Cor.1 He's gone on another rush. 5. Phr. (1) as straight as a rush, (2) rush straight, very straight indeed; (3) to begin or make a new rush, to ‘turn over a new leaf.’ (1) Abd. Sax feet but an inch, an' as straight as a rash, Anderson Rhymes, (ed. 1867) 55. Ayr. He would keep the croon o' the causey, An' walk as straught as a rash, Service Dr. Duguid (ed. 1887) 227. Lnk. I'm straucht as a rash, an' plump as a pea, Nicholson Kilwuddie (1895) 172. Gall. Mactaggart Encycl. (1824). Nhb. Thoo wis strite as a rashor, Chater Tyneside Alm. (1869) 31; Nhb.1 Cum. As straight as a rash, e.Cum. News (Feb. 18, 1888) 8; She's streyt as a resh, and as reed as a rwose, Anderson Ballads (ed. 1840) 34. n.Yks. Used in walking, never in measurement. ‘He went over t'field as straight as a rush’ (R.H.H.). (2) Nhb. His breeches and his jacket clad body rasher stright, Gilchrist Sngs. (1824) 7. (3) Cor. I have thought that this may have been derived from a primitive way of keeping a tally, by stringing some sort of counters on a rush, Flk-Lore Rec. (1879) II. 203; Cor.1 Cor.2 6. v. To gather rushes. Dev. Don't y' go a-rushing, maids, in May... Don't y' go a-rushing, Or you'll get a brushing, Gather up your rushes, and go away, Baring-Gould Dartmoor Idylls (1896) 234. 7. To cover the floor with rushes. Lakel.1 In some parishes, rushing the church in this way was paid for, and in this [Torver] parish, in the early part of the last century, it is an annual item represented in the church accounts by one shilling a year. The object was to counteract the effect of the damp, unpaved church floor. 8. With in: to enclose with interwoven sticks. Cum.4 This [hold] was a space in the edge of the river, about four feet in diameter, rashed in with sticks, interwoven so as to form a sort of pannier or cage, without a bottom, and resting a little above the bed of the river, leaving sufficient space for the fish to pass in or out, W. C. T. (Nov. 17, 1900) 6, col. i.

RUSH, sb.2, v.2 and adv. Sc. n.Cy. Nhb. Yks. I.W. Also in forms rish I.W.1; roosh Sc. [ruʃ, rɐʃ.] 1. sb. A ramble. n.Yks. The trio had arranged for a good long ‘rush’ over the moors, Atkinson Lost (1870) xxii. 2. A push. Nhb.1 Gi's a bit rush, will ye? 3. A great assembly of people; a crowd. n.Yks.1 n.Yks.2 n.Yks.4, m.Yks.1, w.Yks. (J.W.) Hence Rushie-doucie, sb. a tumultuous rush, a skirmish. Edb. In the rooshie doucie the guard might have sic a to-do to save their ain skins, that I might manage to come off with mine, Beatty Secretar (1897) 89. 4. A merrymaking; a feast. n.Cy. Grose (1790). n.Yks.1; n.Yks.2 ‘A grand rush, a great feast. e.Yks. Marshall Rur. Econ. (1788). m.Yks.1 5. A broil. Fif. (Jam.) 6. A cluster of plants, growing thickly together; a small patch of underwood. Nhb. Through a rush of briars and nettles, Richardson Borderer's Table-bk. (1846) VII. 43; Nhb.1, n.Yks.1 n.Yks.2 e.Yks. Marshall Rur. Econ. (1796) II. 340. 7. Diarrhœa; a disease in cattle. Lth., Rxb. A sort of flux... in sheep, when first put upon new or rank pasture (Jam.). Nhb. (Hall.), Nhb.1 Hence rush in the guts, phr. diarrhœa. Lnk. She was suddenly seiz'd wi' a rumbling in her muckle bag, what we kintry fouks ca's a rush i' the guts, Graham Writings (1883) II. 37. 8. v. To push. Nhb.1 Aa'll rush it up for ye. 9. Comp. Rush-doon, a fall of materials, an avalanche. n.Yks.2 10. adv. Boldly. I.W.1 He went rish drow the copse. 11. Phr. rish to cut, at a great rate. I.W.1 There they goos rish to cut.

RUSH, sb.3 Sc. Nhb. Ken. [ruʃ, rɐʃ.] 1. A rash, a skin eruption. Sc. (Jam.), Nhb.1 Hence Rush-fever, sb. scarlet fever. Sc. (Jam.) 2. The rash, or spotted fever. Ken.1 Ken.2