From Middle English flusshen, fluschen, of uncertain origin. Compare dialectal flusk (“to fly at, startle a bird out of the bush”) and flusker (“to flutter, fly irregularly”). Perhaps related to Middle English flasshen, flasschen, flaschen, see flash; or a Middle English blend of flowen (“to flow”) + guschen (“to gush”). Compare Saterland Frisian flutskje, German Low German flutschen, German flutschen.
Meanings
A group of birds that have suddenly started up from undergrowth, trees, etc.
As when a Faulcon hath with nimble flight / Flowne at a flush of Ducks foreby the brooke […]. 1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book V, Canto II”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC:
From Middle English flusshen, fluschen, of uncertain origin. Compare dialectal flusk (“to fly at, startle a bird out of the bush”) and flusker (“to flutter, fly irregularly”). Perhaps related to Middle English flasshen, flasschen, flaschen, see flash; or a Middle English blend of flowen (“to flow”) + guschen (“to gush”). Compare Saterland Frisian flutskje, German Low German flutschen, German flutschen.
Meanings
(transitive) To cause to take flight from concealment.
The dogs flushed the deer from the woods.
(intransitive) To take suddenly to flight, especially from cover.
But then as little VVrens but nevvly fledge, / […] / His fellovv noting his agilitie, / Thinkes he as vvell may venter as the other, / So fluſhing from one ſpray vnto another, / Gets to the top, and then enbold'ned flies, / Vnto an height paſt ken of humane eyes: […] 1613, William Browne, “The Fourth Song”, in Britannia’s Pastorals. [The First Booke], London: […] Geo[rge] Norton, […], →OCLC, page 83:
AWACS is survivable due to its ability to flush on warning, to maneuver at jet speeds, to maintain awareness of the developing air situation and to command weapons as appropriate, including weapons for its own defense. 1972, United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Appropriations. Subcommittee on Department of Defense, Department of Defense Appropriations for Fiscal Year 1973, page 460:
The birds seem to lie very close and must be nearly stepped on before they will flush. 1926, Arthur Cleveland Bent, Life Histories of North American Birds: Marsh Birds, page 336:
it stanare (to cause to take flight from concealment) · bg подплашвам се (to take suddenly to flight, especially from cover) · it scovare (to cause to take flight from concealment) · bg подплашвам (to cause to take flight from concealment) · it levarsi in volo (to take suddenly to flight, especially from cover) · de aufjagen (to take suddenly to flight, especially from cover) · fi ajaa (to cause to take flight from concealment) · de aufscheuchen (to take suddenly to flight, especially from cover) · de Aufscheuchen (to cause to take flight from concealment) · nl opvliegen (to take suddenly to flight, especially from cover) · it volare via (to take suddenly to flight, especially from cover) · fr lever (to cause to take flight from concealment) · de auffliegen (to take suddenly to flight, especially from cover) · fi lehahtaa (to take suddenly to flight, especially from cover) · fi rynnätä (to take suddenly to flight, especially from cover) · fr faire sortir (to cause to take flight from concealment) · it prendere il volo (to take suddenly to flight, especially from cover)
With all his crimes broad blown, as flush as May. c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iii]:
Affluent; abounding; well furnished or supplied; hence, liberal; prodigal.
[H]e vvas not fluſh in Ready [i.e., ready money], either to go to Lavv or clear old Debts, neither could he find good Bail: […] 1712, Humphry Polesworth [pseudonym; John Arbuthnot], “A Copy of Bull and Frog’s Letter to Lord Strutt”, in Law is a Bottomless-Pit. […], London: […] John Morphew, […], →OCLC, page 8:
tr hem yüz (smooth, even, aligned; not sticking out) · de bündig (smooth, even, aligned; not sticking out) · km ត្រឹម (smooth, even, aligned; not sticking out) · it liscio (smooth, even, aligned; not sticking out) · de vermögend (wealthy or well off) · de reich (wealthy or well off) · nl vermogend (wealthy or well off) · de eben (smooth, even, aligned; not sticking out) · de plan (smooth, even, aligned; not sticking out) · sv välmående (wealthy or well off) · de versenkt (smooth, even, aligned; not sticking out) · tr aynı düzeyde (smooth, even, aligned; not sticking out) · de oberflächenbündig (smooth, even, aligned; not sticking out) · de flächenbündig (smooth, even, aligned; not sticking out) · bg равен (smooth, even, aligned; not sticking out) · es plano (smooth, even, aligned; not sticking out) · fr en fonds (wealthy or well off) · no nettopp (smooth, even, aligned; not sticking out) · de eingelassen (smooth, even, aligned; not sticking out) · sv förmögen (wealthy or well off) · de auf gleicher Höhe (smooth, even, aligned; not sticking out) · fr de niveau (smooth, even, aligned; not sticking out) · fr aligné (smooth, even, aligned; not sticking out) · nl gefortuneerd (wealthy or well off) · es raso (smooth, even, aligned; not sticking out) · tr paralı (wealthy or well off) · fi samalla tasolla (smooth, even, aligned; not sticking out) · tr varlıklı (wealthy or well off) · tr çıkıntısız (smooth, even, aligned; not sticking out) · it allineato (smooth, even, aligned; not sticking out) · es rico (wealthy or well off) · bg изравнен (smooth, even, aligned; not sticking out) · sv jämn (smooth, even, aligned; not sticking out) · es alineado (smooth, even, aligned; not sticking out) · sv välbärgade (wealthy or well off) · fi rahoissaan (wealthy or well off) · de wohlhabend (wealthy or well off) · nl rijk (wealthy or well off) · es al ras (smooth, even, aligned; not sticking out) · no rik (wealthy or well off) · de in gleicher Höhe (smooth, even, aligned; not sticking out) · de gleich hoch (smooth, even, aligned; not sticking out) · ca enrasat (smooth, even, aligned; not sticking out) · sv burgen (wealthy or well off) · de flach (smooth, even, aligned; not sticking out) · tr bir hizâda (smooth, even, aligned; not sticking out) · bg богат (wealthy or well off) · sv rik (wealthy or well off) · es a ras (smooth, even, aligned; not sticking out) · mi herengutu (smooth, even, aligned; not sticking out) · it livellato (smooth, even, aligned; not sticking out) · fr riche (wealthy or well off)
Probably from Etymology 1, according to The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language.
Meanings
(countable, uncountable) A sudden flowing; a rush which fills or overflows, as of water for cleansing purposes.
in manner of a wave or flush 1691, John Ray, The Wisdom of God Manifested in the Works of the Creation. […], London: […] Samuel Smith, […], →OCLC:
(countable, uncountable) Particularly, such a cleansing of a toilet.
(countable, uncountable) The process of clearing the contents of a buffer or cache.
(countable, uncountable) A suffusion of the face with blood, as from fear, shame, modesty, or intensity of feeling of any kind; a blush; a glow.
When I would kiss thy hand, / The flush of anger'd shame / O'erflows thy calmer glances, / And o'er black brows drops down / A sudden-curved frown: […] 1830 June, Alfred Tennyson, “Madeline”, in Poems. […], volume I, London: Edward Moxon, […], published 1842, →OCLC, page 18:
(countable, uncountable) Any tinge of red color like that produced on the cheeks by a sudden rush of blood.
Benefit’s cult product Benetint is the lip stain most widely associated with Popsicle lips. Its watery tint gives just the slightest hint of flush, befitting of lips (and nipples — Benetint’s original use was to tint the nipples of burlesque dancers). 2014 July 22, Kathleen Hou, “How to Get Summery, Popsicle-Stained Lips”, in The Cut, New York, N.Y.: Vox Media, →OCLC, archived from the original on 14 Nov 2018:
the flush on the side of a peach; the flush on the clouds at sunset
(countable, uncountable) A sudden flood or rush of feeling; a thrill of excitement, animation, etc.
a flush of joy
(countable, uncountable) A line of poles or obstacles that a skier must weave between.
it arrossimento (suffusion of the face with blood) · bg промиване (sudden flowing; cleansing) · bg червенина (any tinge of red color) · bg руменина (suffusion of the face with blood) · es purgamiento (cleansing of a toilet) · de Errötung (suffusion of the face with blood) · ar شطف (sudden flowing; cleansing) · de Rotwerden (suffusion of the face with blood) · ms bera (suffusion of the face with blood) · it sciacquone (cleansing of a toilet) · tr sifon (cleansing of a toilet) · es sonrojo (any tinge of red color) · de Fieberanfall (a sudden flood or rush of feeling) · de Schwall (sudden flowing; cleansing) · id siram (cleansing of a toilet) · it risciacquo (sudden flowing; cleansing) · it arrossamento (any tinge of red color) · de Aufwallung (a sudden flood or rush of feeling) · nl waterspoeling (cleansing of a toilet) · de Röte (suffusion of the face with blood) · de Spülung (sudden flowing; cleansing) · de Wasserspülung (cleansing of a toilet) · es chapeta (suffusion of the face with blood) · de Spülen (cleansing of a toilet) · de Wasserschwall (sudden flowing; cleansing) · de Wallung (a sudden flood or rush of feeling) · de Durchströmen (sudden flowing; cleansing) · fi huuhtelu (cleansing of a toilet) · it traboccamento (a sudden flood or rush of feeling) · es descargamiento (cleansing of a toilet) · ru при́ступ (a sudden flood or rush of feeling) · eo ruĝiĝo (suffusion of the face with blood) · pt descarga (cleansing of a toilet) · bg червене (suffusion of the face with blood) · it scarico (sudden flowing; cleansing) · it flusso (sudden flowing; cleansing) · bg изблик (a sudden flood or rush of feeling) · de Rötung (any tinge of red color) · ru прили́в (a sudden flood or rush of feeling) · de Spülen (sudden flowing; cleansing) · de Wasserströmung (sudden flowing; cleansing) · pt autoclismo (cleansing of a toilet) · fr chasse d'eau (cleansing of a toilet) · bg промиване (cleansing of a toilet) · fi huuhtelu (sudden flowing; cleansing) · de Erröten (suffusion of the face with blood) · bg изчервяване (suffusion of the face with blood) · mi opeope (sudden flowing; cleansing) · mi horoi (sudden flowing; cleansing) · de Durchspülen (sudden flowing; cleansing) · pl spłuczka (cleansing of a toilet) · el καζανάκι (cleansing of a toilet) · fi vessan vetäminen (cleansing of a toilet) · de Hautrötung (suffusion of the face with blood) · de Röte (any tinge of red color) · de Strömung (sudden flowing; cleansing) · de Spülung (cleansing of a toilet)
Probably from Etymology 1, according to The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language.
Meanings
(transitive) To cleanse by flooding with generous quantities of a fluid.
Flush the injury with plenty of water.
(transitive) Particularly, to cleanse a toilet by introducing a large amount of water.
(intransitive) To become suffused with reddish color due to embarrassment, excitement, overheating, or other systemic disturbance, to blush.
The damsel flushed at the scoundrel's suggestion.
She turned, laughing at the surprise, and flushing with pleasure. 1872, “The Argosy. Edited by Mrs. Henry Wood. Volume XIV. July to December, 1872”, in Google, London, page 60:
(transitive) To cause to blush.
Sudden a thought came like a full-blown rose, / Flushing his brow, [...] 1819, John Keats, “The Eve of St. Agnes”, in Lamia, Isabella, the Eve of St. Agnes, and Other Poems, London: […] [Thomas Davison] for Taylor and Hessey, […], published 1820, →OCLC, stanza XVI, page 91:
The swiftness of the elevator ride caused a drop in air pressure that made Asa nauseous, flushed his brown cheeks maroon, and threatened his already altered equilibrium. 1986, Craig G. Harris, “Weekend Plans”, in Joseph Beam, editor, In The Life: A Black Gay Anthology, page 134:
"Who plants a seed begets a bud, -- Extract of that same root; -- Why marvel at the hectic blood -- That flushes this wild fruit?" 1925, Countee Cullen, Fruit of the Flower:
Nor flush with shame the passing virgin's cheek. [1716], [John] Gay, “(please specify the page)”, in Trivia: Or, The Art of Walking the Streets of London, London: […] Bernard Lintott, […], →OCLC:
To cause to be full; to flood; to overflow; to overwhelm with water.
to flush the meadows
(transitive) To excite, inflame.
Chill depths of the spirit are flushed to a fever,
The nightmare silence is broken. We are not lost. 1941, Theodore Roethke, “Prognosis”, in Open House, New York, N.Y.: Alfred A[braham] Knopf, →OCLC; republished in The Collected Poems of Theodore Roethke, London: Faber and Faber […], 1968, →OCLC, page 5:
such things as can only feed his pride and flush his ambition 1692–1717, Robert South, “Against Long Extemporary Prayers”, in Twelve Sermons Preached upon Several Occasions, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London:
(intransitive, of a toilet) To be cleansed by being flooded with generous quantities of water.
There must be somebody home: I just heard the toilet flushing.
(transitive) To clear (a buffer or cache) of its contents.
(of data held in a buffer or cache, transitive) To write (the data) to primary storage, clearing it from the buffer or cache.
flush to disk
To flow and spread suddenly; to rush.
Blood flushes into the face.
the flushing noise of many waters 1545, John Bale, The Image of Both Churches:
To show red; to shine suddenly; to glow.
In her cheek, distemper flushing glowed. 1667, John Milton, “Book IX”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
To fill in (joints); to point the level; to make them flush.
(intransitive) To operate a placer mine, where the continuous supply of water is insufficient, by holding back the water, and releasing it periodically in a flood.
To fill underground spaces, especially in coal mines, with material carried by water, which, after drainage, constitutes a compact mass.
(intransitive, transitive) To dispose or be disposed of by flushing down a toilet.
sluice · blush (turn red with embarrassment) · crimson (turn red with embarrassment)
Translations (115)
fi huuhdella (of toilet: to be cleansed with generous quantities of water) · it colmare (masonry: to fill in) · de durchspülen (to cleanse by flooding with generous quantities of a fluid) · de erglühen (to show red) · de hineinspülen (masonry: to fill in) · es purgar la poceta (to cleanse a toilet by introducing lots of water) · fi tyhjentää (computing: to clear a buffer of its contents) · nl spoelen (to cleanse by flooding with generous quantities of a fluid) · de abziehen (masonry: to fill in) · ru смыва́ть (to cleanse a toilet by introducing lots of water) · sv spola (of toilet: to be cleansed with generous quantities of water) · it infiammare (to show red) · bg възбуждам (to excite, inflame) · nl doorspoelen (to cleanse a toilet by introducing lots of water) · kix tsùi (to cleanse by flooding with generous quantities of a fluid) · ga sruthlaigh (to cleanse by flooding with generous quantities of a fluid) · it sfruculiare (to excite, inflame) · cmn 衝水 /冲水 (to cleanse a toilet by introducing lots of water) · de durchfließen (to flow and spread suddenly) · it arrossire (to cause to blush) · it fluire (to flow and spread suddenly) · ru смыва́ть (to cleanse by flooding with generous quantities of a fluid) · grc κλύζω (to cleanse by flooding with generous quantities of a fluid) · it ripulire (computing: to clear a buffer of its contents) · ro trage apa (of toilet: to be cleansed with generous quantities of water) · pl spłukiwać (to cleanse a toilet by introducing lots of water) · ga sruthlaigh (to cleanse a toilet by introducing lots of water) · de fließen (to flow and spread suddenly) · it solleticare (to excite, inflame) · de abspritzen (to cleanse by flooding with generous quantities of a fluid) · de verfüllen (masonry: to fill in) · pt puxar descarga (to cleanse a toilet by introducing lots of water) · de spülen (to cleanse a toilet by introducing lots of water) · it riempire (masonry: to fill in) · de leeren (computing: to clear a buffer of its contents) · hy ջուրը քաշել (to cleanse a toilet by introducing lots of water) · de durchspülen (to cleanse a toilet by introducing lots of water) · de rauschen (to flow and spread suddenly) · bg промивам (to cleanse a toilet by introducing lots of water) · it stuzzicare (to excite, inflame) · fi huuhdella (to cleanse a toilet by introducing lots of water) · fi innostaa (to excite, inflame) · eo akvumi (to cleanse by flooding with generous quantities of a fluid) · de erröten lassen (to cause to blush) · it inondare (to overwhelm with water) · ru смыть (to cleanse by flooding with generous quantities of a fluid) · fi vetää (to cleanse a toilet by introducing lots of water) · de überfluten (to overwhelm with water) · it irrorare (to cleanse by flooding with generous quantities of a fluid) · cs spláchnout (to cleanse a toilet by introducing lots of water) · fi vetää vessa (of toilet: to be cleansed with generous quantities of water) · de in Wallung bringen (to excite, inflame) · fi punehtua (to show red) · fit viruttaa (to cleanse by flooding with generous quantities of a fluid) · it svuotare (computing: to clear a buffer of its contents) · de strömen (to flow and spread suddenly) · ga sruthlaigh (of toilet: to be cleansed with generous quantities of water) · is sturta niður (to cleanse a toilet by introducing lots of water) · de spülen (to cleanse by flooding with generous quantities of a fluid) · sv spola (to cleanse a toilet by introducing lots of water) · ru промыва́ть (to cleanse by flooding with generous quantities of a fluid) · hu lehúz (to cleanse a toilet by introducing lots of water) · de (völlig) entleeren (computing: to clear a buffer of its contents) · bg обагря (to show red) · fi huuhdella (to cleanse by flooding with generous quantities of a fluid) · fi punastuttaa (to cause to blush) · cs spláchnout (to cleanse by flooding with generous quantities of a fluid) · de auffüllen (masonry: to fill in) · sv spola (to cleanse by flooding with generous quantities of a fluid) · ro trage apa (to cleanse a toilet by introducing lots of water) · it tirare lo sciacquone (of toilet: to be cleansed with generous quantities of water) · af spoel (to cleanse a toilet by introducing lots of water) · bg изчервявам се (to cleanse a toilet by introducing lots of water) · fr tirer la chasse (to cleanse a toilet by introducing lots of water) · bg разпалвам (to excite, inflame) · fi huuhtoa (to overwhelm with water) · it tirare lo sciacquone (to cleanse a toilet by introducing lots of water) · bg рукна (to flow and spread suddenly) · tr sifonu çekmek (to cleanse a toilet by introducing lots of water) · de erregen (to excite, inflame) · it rifluire (to flow and spread suddenly) · de mit Wasser überspülen (to overwhelm with water) · bg багря (to show red) · nl doortrekken (to cleanse a toilet by introducing lots of water) · fr tirer la chasse d'eau (to cleanse a toilet by introducing lots of water) · bg руквам (to flow and spread suddenly) · it eccitare (to excite, inflame) · es echar agua (to cleanse a toilet by introducing lots of water) · fi täyttää (masonry: to fill in) · ru смыть (to cleanse a toilet by introducing lots of water) · it allagare (to overwhelm with water) · it sommergere (to overwhelm with water) · vi xả (to cleanse a toilet by introducing lots of water) · ru промы́ть (to cleanse by flooding with generous quantities of a fluid) · fr laver à grande eau (to cleanse by flooding with generous quantities of a fluid) · de ausspülen (to cleanse by flooding with generous quantities of a fluid) · pl spłukać (to cleanse a toilet by introducing lots of water) · bg промивам (to cleanse by flooding with generous quantities of a fluid) · de rot werden lassen (to cause to blush) · tr sifonu çekmek (of toilet: to be cleansed with generous quantities of water) · es tirar de la cadena (to cleanse a toilet by introducing lots of water) · de bewässern (to overwhelm with water) · fi sytyttää (to excite, inflame) · fi tasoittaa (masonry: to fill in) · it infiammare (to excite, inflame) · es jalar el wáter (to cleanse a toilet by introducing lots of water) · de erröten (to show red) · pt dar descarga (to cleanse a toilet by introducing lots of water) · de verfugen (masonry: to fill in) · ota ییقامق (to cleanse by flooding with generous quantities of a fluid) · ota یومق (to cleanse by flooding with generous quantities of a fluid) · es descargar la cisterna (to cleanse a toilet by introducing lots of water) · de durchspülen (of toilet: to be cleansed with generous quantities of water) · de durchströmen (to flow and spread suddenly) · es floshear (to cleanse a toilet by introducing lots of water)
Various similar terms are found in dialectal English and Scots as flash and flosh (older Scots flosche), and the variation goes back to Middle English flushe, flosche, flashe, flaske. The DSL suggests a relation between flush, English flash (“pool”), and Middle English flosche, but influence from other water-related senses of flush and flash is also conceivable.
Meanings
A groundwater-fed marsh or peaty mire (which may be acidic or basic, nutrient-rich or poor); (originally especially Scotland and Northern England) a (marshy) pool or seep, as in a field.
The inland distribution of Plantago maritima in Ireland and Britain is … generally associated with base-rich soils or with flushes in more acidic upland soils. … Many of these inland sites are on uplands of both acidic and basic rock. … associated with calcareous, nutrient-poor flushes, … 2012, M. J. Sheehy Skeffington, D. W. Jeffrey, "Growth performance of an inland population of Plantago maritima in response to nitrogen and salinity", in W.G. Beeftink, A.H.L. Huiskes, Jelte Rozema, Ecology of coastal vegetation: Proceedings of a Symposium, page 264
For this point onwards the land slopes gently until it becomes quite low lying, that is, tends to become a "flush" or bog. 1917, Transactions and Proceedings of the Botanical Society of Edinburgh, page 131:
Lowland heath Fen, marsh, and swamp / Upland flushes, fens, and swamps […] Flushes are gently sloping, often linear or triangle-shaped wetlands; they may include small watercourses. 2016, Ralph W. Tiner, Wetland Indicators: A Guide to Wetland Formation:
The reason for a "green gair" or flush is the outflow of a spring, and a regular line of these springs may often be traced along a valley slope. 1918, The Scottish Journal of Agriculture, volumes 1-2, page 263:
The pH in water of the hillside soils varied between 3.1 and 6.1 with a mean of 4.2. The pattern of pH variation is complex and does not clearly relate either to cultivation or occupation. The most consistent, though weak, correlation appears to be between higher pH and flushes or bogs, which indicates that the local groundwaters are comparatively basic. 1995, Olwyn Owen, Christopher Lowe, Kebister: The Four-thousand-year-old Story, page 45:
Suddenly a way would open down into a flush or bog, even some extensive ones where snowfed springs rose, and so did Asiatic Golden Plover with their plangent cries, and calling from high circling; and I was home again. 2007, Colin Simms, Gyrfalcon Poems, page 16:
[…] Not all the flushes are as basic as might be expected in basalt country, but they do support most of the sedges found in this habitat in the Hebrides. […] in peaty fushes both on Canna and Sanday […] 2017, John Lorne Campbell, Canna: The Story of a Hebridean Island, page xvii: