I. ˈbəsk, ˈbu̇sk noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English — more at bush
dialect Britain : bush I 1
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English busken, from Old Norse būask to prepare oneself, get ready, from būa to prepare, make ready, dwell + -sk oneself, from sik (accusative) oneself — more at bower , suicide
transitive verb
1. dialect Britain : to make ready : prepare
they're busking the Covenant for sea — R.L.Stevenson
2. dialect Britain : to dress up : adorn
cowslips busk the brae
3. dialect Britain : to dress (flies) on hooks for fishing
intransitive verb
dialect Britain : to make oneself ready especially hastily : hurry up
III. ˈbəsk noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English busc, probably from Old Italian busco stick, mote, of Germanic origin; akin to Middle High German būsch cudgel — more at beastings
: a thin rigid strip (as of metal, whalebone, or wood) inserted in the front of a bodice or corset for stiffening and support used from the 16th to the 19th centuries
IV. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Creek púskita fast, fasting
: a Creek Indian festival of first-fruits and purification that was celebrated when the first green corn was edible and that marked the beginning of the new year
V. intransitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: origin unknown
Britain : to entertain especially by singing or reciting on the street or in a pub