What does bushiest mean?
Bushiest is the superlative of the adjective bushy, meaning having the greatest density or fullness of hair, fur, foliage, or branches. It applies most often to animals' tails and coats — think of a fox or squirrel at its fluffiest in winter — but also describes overgrown hedges, thick eyebrows, and full beards. The word derives from 'bush', ultimately connected to words for wooded undergrowth, so its imagery always evokes natural, untamed abundance rather than careful grooming. In tone, bushiest tends toward the affectionate or descriptive rather than the formal; writers reach for it when they want to convey lushness with a touch of warmth or humour. As a comparative superlative, it presumes a comparison: one animal, plant, or feature is judged the bushiest among several.
adjectiveBushiest is the superlative form of the adjective bushy, describing something that has the thickest, most abundant growth of hair, foliage, or similar dense covering.
- (of hair, fur, or tails) Having the thickest, most luxuriant growth of coarse or fluffy strands.
- (of plants and shrubs) Having the densest growth of branches and leaves.
"The fox's tail is at its bushiest in winter, when the thick fur keeps it warm."
"By mid-summer, the hedge along the garden path had grown into its bushiest, most impenetrable form."
"Of all the cats in the litter, the Maine Coon was unquestionably the bushiest, with a tail like a feather duster."
A squirrel's tail isn't just cute — at its bushiest it can be nearly as long as the rest of its body, and squirrels fluff it up to stay warm and to look bigger to predators.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of bushiest
Bushiest comes from bushy, an adjective formed in late Middle English from the noun 'bush', which denotes a shrub or dense clump of vegetation. The word 'bush' itself was borrowed from Old French 'busch' or 'bosch', ultimately of Germanic origin, cognate with words such as 'bosk'. Adding the suffix '-y' created the adjective meaning thick or shaggy like a bush, and the standard English superlative ending '-est' yields bushiest.
Word family
Usage notes
As a superlative, bushiest implies a comparison among three or more things. It carries a neutral to affectionate connotation — often used endearingly about animals' fur or a person's eyebrows or beard.
Don't confuse with
Lush describes rich, vigorous growth of vegetation generally, while bushiest specifically means having the most dense, bushy covering of hair or branches.