brush n Cp EDD brash sb¹ 2 'sudden gust of wind, a spell of wet weather; a [snow] storm' Sc; G S WASSON, Cap'n Simeon's Store (1903), p. 36 'brush o' wind,' p. 218 [Maine]. See PATRICK'S BRUSH, SHEILA'S ~ . A period of stormy weather: a late winter snowfall.
   1866 WILSON 276 [The sealers] sailed about the twenty-first of March. They sailed thus late to avoid the equinoctial gales, or, as the saying was, 'We wait until after Saint Patrick's brush.' 1872 Times 20 Mar, p. 3 We may safely assert that 'St Patrick's brush, or 'Sheelah's day' if you will, was never more fully developed by the elements than on the day and night of Monday last. 1924 ENGLAND 124 Perhaps the most memorable of those occasions [for singing) was on the night of 'Sheila's Brush.' which to say the 18th of March. Newfoundland has two 'brushes,' Patrick's and Sheila's; that is to say, storms supposed to be connected with the birthday of St Patrick and that of his wife. P 148-67 A brush of weather.

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