Bushy

Bushy is an adjective describing something thickly covered with hair, leaves, or other material, or resembling a bush in form. It is used to describe both natural growth and artificial shapes, and can apply to hair, fur, or vegetation. Examples include bushy eyebrows, a bushy beard, a bushy tail, or a bushy hedge.

In botany and horticulture, bushy refers to a growth habit characterized by many branches and a dense, rounded form. Plants described as bushy typically have vigorous lateral shoots and a compact canopy. Gardeners may manage bushiness through pruning, pinching, or thinning to improve air flow and light penetration, reduce disease risk, or keep the plant within a desired size.

In human description, bushy is commonly used for hair distribution on the head, face, or body. It can describe eyebrows, beards, mustaches, and other facial or body hair that is thick or uneven. In animal terminology, “bushy” can describe fur or tails that are thick and fluffy; the idiom “bushy-tailed” means energetic or lively and is often used in informal speech.

Etymology: the word derives from the noun bush with the adjectival suffix -y, reflecting its original sense of something resembling or resembling a bush. Over time, its use expanded to describe dense growth or abundant hair in various contexts.