tavern bush (tavern bush)

The bush formerly hung out as a sign for a tavern. taverner (tav'er-ner), n. [ tavernier = Sp . tabernero = Pg. taverneiro = It. tavernajo, tavern i ere, pertaining to a tavern or she shop, prop. adj. (> Sp. tabernario ), shop, booth, boot shop, tavern: see tavern.] One who keeps a tavern; an innkeeper. Forth they goon to war des that village Of which the taverner had spoke biforn. Chaucer, Pardoner's Tale, 1. 245, Not being able to pay, hauing impauned himselfe, the Tauerner bringeth him out to the high way, and beates him. Hakluyt's Voyages, L. 314. tavern-haunter (tav'èrn-hän ter), n. One who frequents taverns. Encyc. Dict. tavern-huntingt (tav'ern-hunting), n. The frequenting of taverns. Their lazine e, their Tavern - hunting , their neglect of all sound literature, and their liking of doltish and monastic all Schoole men daily increast. Milton , On Def. of Humb. Remonst.