brush

Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris

n.


at first undergrowth, small trees, asin England; afterwards applied to larger timber growth andforest trees. Its earlier sense survives in the compoundwords; see below.

1820. Oxley, `New South Wales' (`O.E.D.'):

«The timber standing at wide intervals, without any brush orundergrowth.»

1833. C. Sturt, `Southern Australia,' (2nd ed.) vol. i. p. 62:

«We journeyed . . . at one time over good plains, at anotherthrough brushes.»

1848. J. Gould, `Birds of Australia,' vol. i. Introd. p. 77:

«Jungle, or what in New South Wales would be called brush.»

Ibid. vol. v. Pl. 59:

«Those vast primeval forests of New South Wales to which thecolonists have applied the name of brushes.»

1853. Chas. St. Julian and Edward K. Silvester, `TheProductions, Industry, and Resources of New South Wales,'p. 20:

«What the colonists term `brush' lands are those covered withtall trees growing so near each other and being so closelymatted together by underwood, parasites, and creepers, as to bewholly impassable.»

1883. G. W. Rusden, `History of Australia,' vol. i. p. 67,note:

«Brush was allotted to the growth of large timber on alluviallands, with other trees intermixed, and tangled vines. Thesoil was rich, and `brushland' was well understood as adescriptive term. It may die away, but its meaning deserves tobe pointed out.»

Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris

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