TO MARRY WITH A RUSH-RING, verb. phr. (old).—1.  To marry in jest; and (2) to feign marriage. See quot. 1776.

1

  1579.  SPENSER, The Shepheardes Calender, Nov., 114. Where bene … The knotted RUSH-RINGES, and gilt rosemaree?

2

  1598.  SHAKESPEARE, All’s Well that Ends Well, ii. 2, 22. As fit … as Tib’s RUSH for Tom’s forefinger.

3

  c. 1610.  FLETCHER, The Faithful Shepherdess, i. 3.

        Or gather RUSHES to make many a ring,
For thy long finger.

4

  1668.  DAVENANT, The Rivals.

        I’ll crown thee with a garland of straw then,
  And I’ll MARRY thee WITH A RUSH RING.

5

  1684.  D’URFEY, The Winchester Wedding [Several New Songs].

        And Tommy was so to Katty,
  And WEDDED her WITH A RUSH-RING.…
And thus of Fifty fair Maids …
Scarce Five of the Fifty was left ye,
  That so did return again.

6

  1776.  BRAND, Observations on Popular Antiquities (1813), II. 38. A custom extremely hurtful to the interests of morality appears antiently to have prevailed both in England and in other countries, of marrying with a RUSH RING; chiefly practised, however, by designing men, for the purpose of debauching their mistresses, who sometimes were so infatuated as to believe that this mock ceremony was a real Marriage.

7