Emily Dickinson Lexicon

RU'RAL, a. [Fr. from L. ruralis, from rus, the country.]

Pertaining to the country, as distinguished from a city or town; suiting the country, or resembling it; as, rural scenes; a rural prospect; a rural situation; rural music. Sidney. Thomson.

RU'RAL-IST, n.

One that leads a rural life. Coventry.

RU'RAL-LY, adv.

As in the country. Wakefield.

RU'RAL-NESS, n.

The quality of being rural. Dict.

RU-RIC'O-LIST, n. [L. ruricola; rus, the country, and colo, to inhabit.]

An inhabitant of the country. [Not in use.] Dict.

RU-RIG'EN-OUS, a. [L. rus, the country, and gignor, to be born.]

Born in the country. [Not in use.]

RUSE, n. [Fr.]

Artifice; trick; stratagem; wile; fraud; deceit. [Not English.] Ray.

RUSE-DE-GUERRE, n. [Ruse de guerre; ruse de gār; Fr.]

A stratagem of war.

RUSH, n.¹ [Sax. rics or risc; probably L. ruscus. The Swedish corresponding word is såf, the Hebrew סוף, usually rendered sea-weed, and applied to the Arabic gulf. Deut. i. 1. Numb. xxi. 14. This correspondence deserves notice, as illustrating certain passages in the Scriptures.]

1. A plant of the genus Juncus, of many species. The pith of the rush is used in some places for wicks to lamps and rush-lights. Encyc. The term rush is however applied to plants of various other genera beside Juncos, and by no means to all of the genus Juncus.
2. Any thing proverbially worthless or of trivial value. John Bull's friendship is not worth a rush. Arbuthnot.

RUSH, n.²

A driving forward with eagerness and haste; a violent motion or course; as, a rush of troops; a rush of winds.

RUSH, v.i. [Sax. reosan, hreosan, or ræsan; Sw. rusa; G. rauschen; D. ruischen; Gr. ῥοθεω. The G. has also brausen, the Dutch bruisschen, to rush or roar; Dan. brusen, to rush. The Welsh has brysiaw and crysiaw, to hurry, to hasten; both from rhys, a rushing; rhysiaw, to rush. We have rustle and brustle probably from the same source. The Welsh brysiaw seems to be the English press. See Class Rd, No. 5, 9, &c.]

1. To move or drive forward with impetuosity, violence and tumultuous rapidity; as, armies rush to battle; waters rush down a precipice; winds rush through the forest. We ought never to rush into company, much less into a religious assembly.
2. To enter with undue eagerness, or without due deliberation and preparation; as, to rush into business or speculation; to rush into the ministry. Sprat.

RUSH, v.t.

To push forward with violence. [Not used.]

RUSH'-BOT-TOM-ED, a.

Having a bottom made with rushes.

RUSH'-CAN-DLE, n.

A small blinking taper made by stripping a rush, except one small strip of the bark which holds the pith together, and dipping it in tallow. Johnson. Milton.

RUSH'ED, a.

Abounding with rushes. Warton.

RUSH'ER, n.

One who rushes forward. Whitlock. 2 One who formerly strewed rushes on the floor at dances. B. Jonson.

RUSH'I-NESS, n. [from rushy.]

The state of abounding with rushes.

RUSH'ING, n.

A violent driving of any thing; rapid or tumultuous course. Is. xvii.

RUSH'ING, ppr.

Moving forward with impetuosity.

RUSH'-LIGHT, n.

1. The light of a rush-candle; a small feeble light.
2. A rush-candle. Encyc.

RUSH'-LIKE, a.

Resembling a rush; weak.

RUSH'Y, a.

1. Abounding with rushes. Mortimer.
2. Made of rushes. Tickel. My rushy couch and frugal fare. Goldsmith.

RUSK, n.

1. A kind of light cake.
2. Hard bread for stores.

RUS'MA, n.

A brown and light iron substance, with half as much quicklime steeped in water, of which the Turkish women make their psilothron to take off their hair. Grew.

RUSS, a. [roos; Sw. ryss.]

Pertaining to the Russ or Russians. [The native word is Russ. We have Russia from the south of Europe.]