flush

{{11}}flush (adj.) 1550s, "perfect, faultless;" c.1600, "abundant; plentifully supplied (with money, etc.)," perhaps from FLUSH (Cf. flush) (v.) through the notion of a river running full, hence level with its banks. Meaning "even, level" is from 1620s.

{{12}}flush (n.) "hand of cards all of one suit," 1520s, perhaps from M.Fr. flus (15c.), from O.Fr. flux "a flowing," with the sense of "a run" (of cards), from L. fluxus "flux," from fluere "to flow" (see FLUENT (Cf. fluent)). The form in English probably was influenced by flush (v.).

{{12}}flush (v.) "fly up suddenly," c.1300, perhaps imitative of the sound of beating wings, or related to flash via its variant flushe. Probably not connected to O.Fr. flux, source of FLUSH (Cf. flush) (n.). Transitive meaning "to cause to fly, start" is first attested mid-15c. The sense of "spurt, rush out suddenly, flow with force" (1540s) is probably the same word, with the connecting notion being "sudden movement," but its senses seem more to fit the older ones of flash (now all transferred to this word except in flash flood). Meaning "cleanse a drain, etc., with a rush of water" is from 1789. The noun sense of "sudden redness in the face" (1620s) probably belongs here, too. The verb in this sense is from 1660s. "A very puzzling word" [Weekley]. Related: Flushed; flushing.