Emily Dickinson Lexicon

BUSH, n. [D. bosch; G. busch; Dan. busk; Sw. buska; It. bosco; Sp. bosque; Port. bosque; whence Sp. boscage, Fr. bocage, It. boscata, a grove or cluster of trees. Qu. Gr. βοσκω, L. pasco, originally, to feed on sprouts.]

1. A shrub with branches; a thick shrub; also, a cluster of shrubs. With hunters, a fox tail. – Spenser. Waller. Encyc. Ash.
2. An assemblage of branches interwoven. – Encyc.
3. A branch of a tree fixed or hung out as a tavern sign. Hence, since the branch has been discontinued, a coronated frame of wood hung out as a tavern sign, is so called. Hence the English proverb, “Good wine needs no bush.” – Encyc. [I know not that this word is thus used in the United States.]
4. A circle of metal let into the sheaves of such blocks as have iron pins, to prevent their wearing. – Mar. Dict. The word is applicable to a like circle in other round holes, as to the key-hole of a watch, the vent of a gun, &c. This word when applied to sheaves is called bush, but when applied to the circular iron of a cart wheel is, in America, called a box. Qu. It. bosso, the box-tree; bossolo, a little box. Johnson writes it bushel.