• Rush

    Pronunciation

    • Rhymes: -ʌʃ

    Origin 1

    From Middle English rusch, risch, from Old English rysc, risc, from Proto-Germanic *ruskijō (compare West Frisian risk, Dutch rus ("bulrush"), dialectal Norwegian ryskje ("hair-grass")), from Proto-Indo-European *resg- ‘to plait, wattle’ (compare Irish rusg ("bark"), Latin restis ("rope"), Latvian režģis ‘basketwork’, Albanian rrush ("grapes"), Serbo-Croatian rògoz (""), Ancient Greek ἄρριχος (arrikhos, "basket"), Persian رغزه (raɣza, "woollen cloth")).

    Full definition of rush

    Noun

    rush

    (plural rushes)
    1. Any of several stiff aquatic or marsh plants of the genus Juncus, having hollow or pithy stems and small flowers.
    2. The stem of such plants used in making baskets, mats, the seats of chairs, etc.
    3. The merest trifle; a straw.
      • unknown date ArbuthnotJohn Bull's friendship is not worth a rush.

    Origin 2

    Perhaps from Middle English ruschen, russchen ("to rush, startle"), from Old English hryscan, hrȳscan ("to jolt, startle"), from Proto-Germanic *hruskijaną ("to startle, drive"), *hruskaną, *hurskaną ("to be quick, be clever"), from Proto-Indo-European *kors- ("to run, hurry"). Cognate with Old High German hurscan ("to speed, accelerate"), Old English horsc ("quick, quick-witted, clever"). More at hurry. Perhaps related to Albanian rash ("I fell, precipitate").

    etymology note

    An alternative etymology traces rush via Middle English rouschen ("to rush") from Old English *rūscian ("to rush") from Proto-Germanic *rūskōną ("to rush, storm, be fierce, be cruel"), a variant (with formative k) of Proto-Germanic *rūsōną ("to be cruel, storm, rush") from Proto-Indo-European *(o)rewə- ("to drive, move, agitate"), making it akin to Old High German rosc, rosci (""), Middle Low German rūschen (""), Middle High German rūschen, riuschen ("") (German rauschen ("to rush")), North Frisian ruse ("to rush"), Middle Dutch ruuscen ("to make haste"), Middle Dutch rūsen ("") (Dutch ruisen ("to rush")), Danish ruse ("to rush"), Swedish rusa ("to rush"). Compare Middle High German rūsch (""). Influenced by Middle English russhen ("to force back") from Anglo-Norman russher, russer from Old French ruser, rëuser.

    Alternatively, according to the OED, perhaps an adaptation of Anglo-Norman russher, russer ("to force back, down, out of place, by violent impact", "to pull out or drag off violently or hastily"), from Old French re(h)usser, ruser (although the connection of the forms with single -s- and double -ss- is dubious; also adopted in English ruse; French ruser ("to retreat, drive back")), from an assumed Vulgar Latin *refusare and Latin refundere ("to cause to flow back"), although connection to the same root is also possible. More at rouse.

    Noun

    rush

    (plural rushes)
    1. A sudden forward motion.
      • Sir H. WottonA gentleman of his train spurred up his horse, and, with a violent rush, severed him from the duke.
      • 1963, Margery Allingham, The China Governess Chapter 19, When Timothy and Julia hurried up the staircase to the bedroom floor, where a considerable commotion was taking place, Tim took Barry Leach with him. .... The captive made no resistance and came not only quietly but in a series of eager little rushes like a timid dog on a choke chain.
    2. A surge.
      A rush of business can be difficult to handle effectively for its unexpected volume.
    3. General haste.
      Many errors were made in the rush to finish.
    4. A rapid, noisy flow.
      a rush of water;  a rush of footsteps
    5. (military) A sudden attack; an onslaught.
    6. (contact sports) The act of running at another player to block or disrupt play.
      a rush on the quarterback
    7. A sudden, brief exhilaration, for instance the pleasurable sensation produced by a stimulant.
      The rollercoaster gave me a rush.
    8. (US, figuratively) A regulated period of recruitment in fraternities and sororities.
      rush week
    9. (US, dated, college slang) A perfect recitation.
    10. (croquet) A roquet in which the object ball is sent to a particular location on the lawn.

    Derived terms

    Verb

    1. (transitive or intransitive) To hurry; to perform a task with great haste.
      rush one's dinner;   rush off an email response
      • Thomas Sprat (1635–1730)They...never think it to be a part of religion to rush into the office of princes and ministers.
      • 2013-08-16, John Vidal, Dams endanger ecology of Himalayas, Most of the Himalayan rivers have been relatively untouched by dams near their sources. Now the two great Asian powers, India and China, are rushing to harness them as they cut through some of the world's deepest valleys.
    2. (intransitive) To flow or move forward rapidly or noisily.
      armies rush to battle;   waters rush down a precipice.
      • William Shakespeare (1564-1616)Like to an entered tide, they all rush by.
      • 1892, James Yoxall, The Lonely Pyramid Chapter 5, The desert storm was riding in its strength; the travellers lay beneath the mastery of the fell simoom. Whirling wreaths and columns of burning wind, rushed around and over them.
    3. (intransitive, football) To dribble rapidly.
    4. (transitive or intransitive, contact sports) To run directly at another player in order to block or disrupt play.
    5. (transitive) To cause to move or act with unusual haste.
      Don't rush your client or he may withdraw.
    6. (intransitive, military) To make a swift or sudden attack.
    7. (military) To swiftly attach to without warning.
    8. (transitive) To transport or carry quickly.
      The shuttle rushes passengers from the station to the airport.
    9. (transitive or intransitive, croquet) To roquet an object ball to a particular location on the lawn.
    10. (US, slang, dated) To recite (a lesson) or pass (an examination) without an error.

    Synonyms

    Adjective

    rush

    1. Performed with, or requiring urgency or great haste, or done under pressure.a rush job

    Usage notes

    Used only before a noun.

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