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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Rusch, n. Also: rusche, rus; rousche, rous. [ME russche (once, c1380), e.m.E. russhe (1535); Rus(c)h v.]

1. A sudden violent movement or charge; a violent impact.Some of the early quots. below may properly belong to 2.In a rus, ? with great suddenness.(1) c1420 Wynt. iv 724.
Thare men mycht here bot dusche for dusch, Rappys royd wytht mony a rusch Ib. viii 2526 (C).
Than thai laid on dusche for dusch, Mony rape, and mony a rusche c1475 Wall. iv 450.
At the fyrst rusche feill Inglismen war slayne
Down belive we tumbil it [supra a hite turate] al atanys. 1533 Boece 234b.
At the first rusche Romanis … war nere ouresett 1535 Stewart 21176.
The men of armes interit in the feild With sic ane rousche, quhill mony … scheild … all to pecis claue Ib. 46910.
His hors hapnit … to fall With sic ane rous quhill that him self flew wnder(2) c1420 Wynt. iv 2358.
That all the wyndowys in a rus [L. dusche] … Brak wpe

2. A rushing or crashing noise. a1500 Seven S. 1117.
Quhen he the rusche herd in the well He wend that scho had drownit hire sell 1513 Doug. ix ix 37.
The byrnand towr down rollys with a rusche Quhill all the hevynnys dyndlyt of the dusch 1549 Compl. 39/34 (see Land-rusche n.).