v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Rushed p. pr. & vb. n. Rushing. ] [ OE. ruschen; cf. AS. hryscan to make a noise, D. ruischen to rustle, G. rauschen, MHG. rūschen to rush, to rustle, LG. rusken, OSw. ruska, Icel. & Sw. ruska to shake, Dan. ruske to shake, and E. rouse. ] 1. To move forward with impetuosity, violence, and tumultuous rapidity or haste; as, armies rush to battle; waters rush down a precipice. [ 1913 Webster ]

Like to an entered tide, they all rush by. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To enter into something with undue haste and eagerness, or without due deliberation and preparation; as, to rush business or speculation. [ 1913 Webster ]

They . . . never think it to be a part of religion to rush into the office of princes and ministers. Sprat. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Some species are used in bottoming chairs and plaiting mats, and the pith is used in some places for wicks to lamps and rushlights. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The merest trifle; a straw. [ 1913 Webster ]

John Bull's friendship is not worth a rush. Arbuthnot. [ 1913 Webster ]

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 (Zool.), 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 schoenanthus), used in Oriental medical practice. --
Wood rush, any plant of the genus Luzula, which differs in some technical characters from Juncus. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. 1. To push or urge forward with impetuosity or violence; to hurry forward. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To recite (a lesson) or pass (an examination) without an error. [ College Cant, U.S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A moving forward with rapidity and force or eagerness; a violent motion or course; as, a rush of troops; a rush of winds; a rush of water. [ 1913 Webster ]

A gentleman of his train spurred up his horse, and, with a violent rush, severed him from the duke. Sir H. Wotton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Great activity with pressure; as, a rush of business. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A perfect recitation. [ College Cant, U.S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Football) (a) A rusher; as, the center rush, whose place is in the center of the rush line; the end rush. (b) The act of running with the ball. [ 1913 Webster ]

Bunt rush (Football), a combined rush by main strength. --
Rush line (Football), the line composed of rushers. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A kind of rural festival at the dedication of a church, when the parishioners brought rushes to strew the church. [ Eng. ] Nares. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A bullying and violent person; a braggart; a swashbuckler. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

That flock of stout, bragging rushbucklers. Robynson (More's Utopia). [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Abounding or covered with rushes. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who rushes. Whitlock. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who strewed rushes on the floor at dances. [ Obs. ] B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From Rushy. ] The quality or state of abounding with rushes. [ 1913 Webster ]