Rush, subs. and verb. (common).—Generic for violence. Whence (1) as subs. (old) = robbery with violence: distinguished from a ramp (q.v.), which might refer to the 'lifting' of a single article, whereas the rush involves cleaning out (q.v.); hence (2) any swindle; and, as verb. = to rob, to cheat, to extort (e.g., 'I rushed the old girl for a quid'): also the rush-dodge, and to give one the rush (Parker, Grose, Vaux). Into modern colloquial usage rush enters largely: as subs. = (1) extreme urgency of affairs; (2) a great demand, a run (q.v.); (3) a stampede of horses or cattle; (4) a mellay; (5) in Amer. schools = (a) a gabbled or brilliant recitation, and (b) a very successful 'pass'; (6) a forward's work at football: whence a scrimmage (q.v.). or play in which the ball is forced. As verb. = (1) to hurry, to force (or advance) a matter with undue haste; (2) to go for an opponent blindly: chiefly pugilists'; (3) to charge or attack wildly; and (4) at football = (a) to force a ball, (b) to secure a goal by forcing. Also to do a rush (racing) = to back a safe-'un (q.v.), and (among bookmakers' touts) to bet flash (q.v.), to induce business, to bonnet (q.v.). Whence rusher = (1) a cheat, a thief (spec. a thief working a house insufficiently guarded); (2) a man of sensational energy, as a ranting divine, a bawling politician, a reckless punter, a wild-hitting pugilist; and (3) a forward good at running ball in hand or forcing the play (football). Also, to roam on the rush (racing) = to swerve from the straight at the spurt for the finish; on (or with) a rush = with spirit, energetically; on the rush = on the run, hard at it; to rush the season = to anticipate social and other functions; to do a rush up the straight (the frills, or petticoats) = to possess without further ado a yielding woman: see Grope; to rush a bill (parliamentary) = to put a bill through, (a) without debate, or (b) by closuring the Opposition.
1595. Shakspeare, Rom. and Juliet, iii. 3, 25. The kind prince, Taking thy part, hath rush'd aside the law.
1825. Jones, True Bottom'd Boxer [Univ. Songst., ii. 96]. For taking and giving, for sparring and rushing it. Ibid. With chancery suiting, and sparring and rushing.
18[?]. Brunonian [Bartlett]. A rush is a glib recitation, but to be a dead rush it must be flawless, polished, and sparkling like a Koh-i-noor.
18[?]. Yale Lit. Mag. [Bartlett]. It was purchased by the man, who "really did not look" at the lesson on which he rushed.
1871. De Vere, Americanisms, 171. The miner in California and Nevada has been known, in times of a rush, to speak of a place where he could stand leaning against a stout post, as his diggings for the night.
1872. Daily Telegraph, 9 Feb. The place was rushed—an expressive word, which signifies that the diggers swarmed to the spot in such crowds as to render merely foolish any resistance which an owner might be inclined to make. Ibid. (1874), 4 Aug. A number of bills are rushed through Parliament. Ibid. (1883), 22 May, 2, 3. The sore point of intrigue and bribery too well known by those familiar with the rushing of private bills through the American Senate as existing in that Assembly.
1881. Grant, Bush Life. A confused whirl of dark forms swept before him, and the camp so full of life a minute ago is desolate. It was a rush, a stampede.
1885. Punch, 24 Jan., 42. But, in affairs of empire, Have you been fogged—or rushed?
