Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(orig. US) to ambush, to mug; also as n.

1893		K. Mackay Out Back 290: ‘Good-night,’ replied the manager; ‘I hope you won’t get bushed.’ ‘Nae fear!’ cried Douglas, as they rode away.
1898		(con. 1875) F.T. Bullen Cruise of the ‘Cachalot’ 319: The slanting rays of the setting sun warned us to return lest we should get ‘bushed’ in the dark.
1947		W.D. Overholser Buckaroo’s Code (1948) 52: Toad Maxon [...] tried to ’bush me in town the other night.
1951		P. Whelton Angels are Painted Fair 185: We hug buildings and we don’t [...] get bushed in any alleys with only one end.
1972		T. O’Brien If I Die in a Combat Zone (1980) 81: We’ll be bushing this trail junction.
1978		T. O’Brien Going After Cacciato (1980) 233: ‘Bushed,’ Oscar kept saying. ‘Fuckin ambushed.’.
1990		G.R. Clark Words of the Vietnam War 20/2: A good ambush or ‘bush’ as some GIs called it, was one in which all of the enemy [...] were killed or wounded.
2000		N. Barlay Crumple Zone 157: I’m thinking about Ridge who keeps crossing railway lines to get to the place, to tag the special place, ready to bush the train, to bomb it.