flush
n. countablen. a sudden flow of water that cleans something out, like a toilet. It can also mean a red color that appears on your face when you feel embarrassed or hot.
n. a rapid flow of water used to cleanse or empty a space; also, a sudden reddening of the face caused by increased blood flow to the skin. Often associated with physiological responses to emotion or temperature.
He pressed the handle to give the toilet a strong flush.
A sudden flush of embarrassment spread across her cheeks when she realized she was in the wrong room.
The system requires a regular flush with clean water to prevent the accumulation of sediment and chemical residues that could eventually corrode the internal valves.
From Middle English flusshen, fluschen, of uncertain origin. Compare dialectal flusk (“to fly at, startle a bird out of the bush”) and flusker (“to flutter, fly irregularly”). Perhaps related to Middle English flasshen, flasschen, flaschen, see flash; or a Middle English blend of flowen (“to flow”) + guschen (“to gush”). Compare Saterland Frisian flutskje, German Low German flutschen, German flutschen.
Same as Etymology 3, according to The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language.
Probably from Etymology 1, according to The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language.
Various similar terms are found in dialectal English and Scots as flash and flosh (older Scots flosche), and the variation goes back to Middle English flushe, flosche, flashe, flaske. The DSL suggests a relation between flush, English flash (“pool”), and Middle English flosche, but influence from other water-related senses of flush and flash is also conceivable.
Probably from Middle French flus (“flow”), cognate with flux.
Commonly used with 'of' to describe a sudden rush of emotion or color ('a flush of pride').