Brush

[Fr. bro e, a bush; from Celt. brou , a thicket; Ger. borste, a bristle.) An instrument used for painting, or for removing dirt by light rubbing, from floors, furniture, . They are generally made of hair, bristles, or whalebone, and are divided into two cla es - simple and compound. Simple B. are composed of a single tuft, and compound B. consist of several tufts inserted in a handle. Painters' B. are examples of the former, and ordinary hair- B. of the latter. The smaller kinds of simple B. are known by the name of pencil, and are made of camel or sable-hair, inserted in quills of different sizes. When coarser and stronger material is used, they are generally mounted in tin tubes, and known by the name of tools, the larger kinds being bound around sticks with string or copper wire. After these come Whitewash B., which consist of two or more large tufts fixed side by side on a flat handle, and secured firmly with string or wire. Compound B. are so made that a number of tufts are inserted into holes perforated at regular distances in the back, or stock, of the handle. -A rude a ault; a skirmish. "Let grow thy sinews till their knots be strong, And tempt not yet the brushes of the war." -Shaks. -A thicket. - The tail of a fox. Electrical brush. The brush-shaped or luminous rays diverging from painted bodies that are highly charged with positive electricity. -v. a. To sweep or rub with a brush.- To paint with a brush. "You have commi ioned me to paint your shop, and I have done my best to brush you up like your neighbors."- Pope . -To strike, rub over, or touch lightly in pa ing. "Has Somnus brushed thy eyelids with his rod?" - Dryden. -To remove by brushing; as, "the water brushed off by the winds." -Bentley. lin co. Brush Turkey, n. (Zool.) See MEGAPOD I IDE. Brush Valley, in Pennsylvania , a post-township of Indiana co., 55 m. E. by N. of Pittsburg; pop . abt. 1,850. Brush'ville, in New York , a post-office of Queen's co. -A post-village of Livings ton co. Brush'ville, in Wisconsin , a post-office of Waushara.co. Brush'-wheel, n. ( Mech . ) One of the wheels used in light machinery, to turn each other by means of bris- tles or brushes fixed to their circumference. Brush'y, a. Resembling a brush; rough; shaggy. Brush'y, in Arkansas , a P. O. of the Choctaw nation. Brushy Creek, in S. Carolina , a P. O. of Anderson co. Brushy Creek, in Tezas , rises in Lavacca co., and falls into Lavacca River. -Another, rises in Williams on co., and falls into Little River. -A post-office of Williams on co. Brushy Fork, in Illinois . See BUSHY FORK. Brushy Fork, in Ohio , a post-office of Scioto co. Brushy Prairie, in Indiana , a P. O. of La Grange co. Brushy Run, in W. Virginia , a P.O. of Pend let on co. Brusk, Brusque, ( brösk , ) a . [Fr. brusque . See BRISK.] Sharp; rude; rough.