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Added 8 October 2026

brush

/bɹʌʃ/ noun

In Latin: pēnicillum Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about brush at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A dense growth of bushes.
An implement that has hairs or bristles firmly set into a handle.
Momentary contact.

verb

Rub with a brush, or as if with a brush.
Johnson brushed the hairs from his jacket
Touch lightly and briefly.
He brushed the wall lightly
Clean with a brush.
She brushed the suit before hanging it back into the closet

Origin

From Middle English brusshe, from Old French broisse (Modern French brosse), from Vulgar Latin *brustia, from Frankish *bursti, from Proto-Germanic *burstiz (“bristle”), or also Vulgar Latin *bruscia, from Proto-Germanic *bruskaz (“tuft, thicket, underbrush”), which could be from Proto-Indo-European *bʰrusgo-.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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