rushbearern.
/ˈrʌʃˌbɛːrə/, U.S. /ˈrəʃˌbɛrər/ A person who bears rushes; spec. one who participates in the ceremony of rushbearing. Cf. rushbearing n.
ΚΠ
1595 in J. H. Hanshall Hist. Cheshire (1817) 581 For wine to the Rushbearers.
1607 in J. H. Hanshall Hist. Cheshire (1817) 581 To the Rushbearers, wine, ale [etc.].
1828 Mirror 3 May 295/1 The young maidens, who are to become the rushbearers, apply to the vicar of Musgrave for his consent.
1888 Carlisle Patriot 17 Aug. (E.D.D.) Service over, each rushbearer received the customary present.
1909 Amer. Eccl. Rev. June 691 There was also the rush-bearers' hymn.
2010 D. Cressy Dangerous Talk v. 113 The rushbearers, about forty young men and maids of the parish, entered the church.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2011; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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