brushy

comparative brushier · superlative brushiest

1. Having a similar texture to a fox’s tail; brushlike, bushy.

   It [a dormouse] dipped its brushy tail (somewhat resembling that of a fox) into the dish, and carried the milk in this manner to the mouth.

   1825 November 9, John Murray, “Art X.—1. On the Unequal Distribution of Caloric in Voltaic Action. 2. On the Temperature of the Skin of the Dormouse. 3. On the Temperature of the Egg of the Hen, in relation to its Physiology. By John Murray, F.S.A. F.L.S. & M.W.S. Communicated by the Author.”, in The Edinburgh Philosophical Journal [...] October 1. 1825 to April 1. 1826, volume XIV, number XXVII, Edinburgh: Printed for Archibald Constable & Co. Edinburgh; and Hurst, Robinson & Co. London, published January 1826, →OCLC, page 61

   1 more example

   The northern variety living in the forests of New South Wales and Queensland have smaller ears, shorter feet and a longer, brushier tail than those in the Victorian woods to the south.

   2002 December 10, David Derbyshire, “New possum species found in Australia”, in The Daily Telegraph, London, archived from the original on 29 Feb 2016

   Synonyms: bushy

2. Of the countryside: having thick vegetation, taller than grass but shorter than trees; having abundant brush; shrubby.

   Throughout much of northern Alaska, tundra is becoming brushier and giving way to forest. As tundra diminishes, animals that depend on it for food or nesting habitat—caribou and many birds—are likely to lose out.

   2004 summer, Bill Sherwonit, “Alaskan meltdown: On the frontlines of climate change”, in National Parks, Washington, D.C.: National Parks and Conservation Association, →ISSN, page 27

   Synonyms: shrubby