Obs. exc. dial. Forms: 4 lusshe, luysche, lusse, lusche, (pa. t. loste, luste), 5 lusche, loushe, lusk, 9 losh, 6– lush. [? Echoic variant of LASH v.]
1. intr. To rush, dash; to come down with a rush.
c. 1330. Arth. & Merl., 8117 (Kölbing). Hou our wiȝtlinges so hende On þe heþen wiþ swordes losten.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 2977. Mast & sayl, doun hit lusched [v.r. lussed], Cordes, kables, casteles, tofrusched.
a. 1350. S. Anastasia, 114, in Horstm., Altengl. Leg. (1881), 26. Þe Emperours men … Lusshed opon him.
a. 1400[?]. Morte Arth., 1459. With lufly launcez one lofte they luyschene to-gedyres. Ibid., 2226. He laughte owtte a lange swerde, and luyschede one ffaste.
c. 1430. Lydg., Min. Poems (Percy Soc.), 114. He thought he harde the devylle loushe, He start into a bryer boushe.
c. 1470. Golagros & Gaw., 1003. Thai luschit and laid on, thai luflyis of lyre.
1566. Drant, Horace, A iij. The bancke hath burst, that down they lush, and so be drente at laste.
18[?]. Whitehead, Leg., 19 (Cumberld. Gl.). For seun she grows a lusty beck An layks an loshes ower the steaynes.
2. trans. To strike.
c. 1330. Arth. & Merl., 6875 (Kölbing). Þer was … mani of his hors ylust. Ibid., 7750. Our cristen … out of þe sadel mani lust. Ibid., 9797. Anoþer to þe chine he luȝste.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 6730. He hurlet forth vnhyndly, harmyt full mony, Of þe ledis, þat hym led, luskit to ground.
c. 1440. York Myst., xxxi. 10. Þus schall I … lusshe all youre lymmys with lasschis. Ibid., xlvi. 37. Þei lusshed hym, þei lasshed hym.
14[?]. MS. Soc. Antiq. 101, lf. 72 (Halliw.). These lions bees lusked and lased on sondir.
1890. Glouc. Gloss., Lush, to beat down wasps with a bough.
† 3. To bring out with a rush. In quot. fig. Obs.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., I. xx. 129. Thei kunnen bi herte the textis of Holi Scripture and kunnen lussche hem out thikke at feest, and at ale drinking.
