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busk
[ buhsk ]
verb (used without object)
- to entertain by dancing, singing, reciting, juggling, etc., on the street or in a public place.
- Canadian. to make a showy or noisy appeal.
busk
1/ bʌsk /
noun
- a strip of whalebone, wood, steel, etc, inserted into the front of a corset to stiffen it
- archaic.the corset itself
busk
2/ bʌsk /
verb
- intr to make money by singing, dancing, acting, etc, in public places, as in front of theatre queues
busk
3/ bʌsk /
verb
- to make ready; prepare
- to dress or adorn
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Derived Forms
- ˈbusking, noun
- ˈbusker, noun
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Other Words From
- busk·er noun
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Word History and Origins
Origin of busk1
First recorded in 1850–55; origin unclear; perhaps, if earlier sense was “to make a living by entertaining,” from Polari, from Italian buscare “to procure, get, gain,” from Spanish buscar “to look for, seek”
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Word History and Origins
Origin of busk1
C16: from Old French busc , probably from Old Italian busco splinter, stick, of Germanic origin
Origin of busk2
C20: perhaps from Spanish buscar to look for
Origin of busk3
C14: from Old Norse būask , from būa to make ready, dwell; see bower 1
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Example Sentences
Leif and his house-carls, of whom there were ten present at the time, did not take long to busk them for the fight.
From Project Gutenberg
Miss Busk gives a free adaptation rather than a translation of the German version, “Sagas,” p. 315.
From Project Gutenberg
Get thee home, Ralph; follow him, Jane; he shall not have so much as a busk-point from thee.
From Project Gutenberg
Septem spice plene pullulabant in culmo vno, C. busk, bush, for stalk is curious.
From Project Gutenberg
Any attempt at concealing pregnancy, by tight lacing and the application of a stronger busk, cannot be too severely condemned.
From Project Gutenberg
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