Word Direct Answers

What does "bruise" mean?

Bruise: To break; as in a mortar; to bray, as minerals, roots, etc.; to crush. Nor bruise her flowerets with the armed hoofs. Shak.

Additional senses

  1. 2.To fight with the fists; to box. Bruising was considered a fine, manly, old English custom. Thackeray.
  2. 3.An injury to the flesh of animals, or to plants, fruit, etc., with a blunt or heavy instrument, or by collision with some other body; a contusion; as, a bruise on the head; bruises on fruit. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises. Isa. i. 6.

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