rush

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   in American football, an attempt to advance the ball by running into the line

   The linebackers were excellent at stopping the rush.

2. 2
   noun

   a sudden burst of activity

   come back after the rush

3. 3
   verb

   urge to an unnatural speed

   Don't rush me, please!

4. 4
   verb

   act or move at high speed

   We have to rush!

5. 5
   verb

   to move fast

   I rushed down the hall to receive my guests.

6. 6
   noun

   A sudden forward motion.

   A gentleman of his train spurred up his horse, and, with a violent rush, severed him from the duke.

7. 7
   noun

   A surge.

   A rush of business can be difficult to handle effectively for its unexpected volume.

8. 8
   noun

   General haste.

   Many errors were made in the rush to finish.

Etymology

Perhaps from Middle English ruschen, russchen (“to rush, startle, make a loud rushing noise”), from Old English hrysċan (“to jolt, startle”), from Proto-West Germanic *hurskijan, from Proto-Germanic *hurskijaną (“to startle, drive”), from *hurskaz (“fast, rapid, quick”), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱers- (“to run, hurry”). Cognate with Old High German hursken (“to hurry, speed, incite, accelerate”), Old English horsċ (“quick, quick-witted, clever”), Old Frisian rosk, rosch (“quick, rapid, sudden”). etymology note An alternative etymology traces rush via Middle English ruschen (“to rush”) from Ol…