verb (used without object)
1.
Chiefly British. to entertain by dancing, singing, or reciting on the street or in a public place.
2.
Canadian. to make a showy or noisy appeal.
Origin:
1850–55; perhaps, if earlier sense was “to make a living by entertaining,” < Polari < Italian buscare to procure, get, gain < Spanish buscar to look for, seek (of disputed orig.)
1850–55; perhaps, if earlier sense was “to make a living by entertaining,” < Polari < Italian buscare to procure, get, gain < Spanish buscar to look for, seek (of disputed orig.)
Related forms
busk·er, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
|
Link To busk
Collins
World English Dictionary
busk1 (bʌsk) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | a strip of whalebone, wood, steel, etc, inserted into the front of a corset to stiffen it |
| 2. | archaic, dialect or the corset itself |
| [C16: from Old French busc, probably from Old Italian busco splinter, stick, of Germanic origin] | |
00:10
Busk
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is skedaddle. Does it mean:
| to spend time idly; loaf. |
| to run away hurriedly; flee. |
| busk2 (bʌsk) | |
| —vb | |
| (Brit) (intr) to make money by singing, dancing, acting, etc, in public places, as in front of theatre queues | |
| [C20: perhaps from Spanish buscar to look for] | |
| 'busker2 | |
| —n | |
| 'busking2 | |
| —n | |
| busk3 (bʌsk) | |
| —vb | |
| 1. | to make ready; prepare |
| 2. | to dress or adorn |
| [C14: from Old Norse būask, from būa to make ready, dwell; see | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Example sentences
By that time, you could circulate in society without a busk, under different conditions.
Their licence allows them to busk only at a specified place and at certain times.
He would busk, doing dance and comedy patter to make extra money.
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