busk

American  

[buhsk] / bʌsk /

verb (used without object)

1. to entertain by dancing, singing, reciting, juggling, etc., on the street or in a public place.

2. Canadian. to make a showy or noisy appeal.

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busk ¹ British  

/ bʌsk /

noun

1. a strip of whalebone, wood, steel, etc, inserted into the front of a corset to stiffen it

2. archaic the corset itself

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busk ² British  

/ bʌsk /

verb

1. to make ready; prepare

2. to dress or adorn

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busk ³ British  

/ bʌsk /

verb

1. (intr) to make money by singing, dancing, acting, etc, in public places, as in front of theatre queues

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Other Word Forms

• busker noun
• busking noun

Etymology

Origin of busk

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”

Example Sentences

From the musicians busking along Venice Beach to the intimate shows at Winston House, music is part of the fabric of Venice.

From Los Angeles Times

In the centre of Vladivostok I stop to listen to a band busking on a pedestrian street.

From BBC

A musician from Northern Ireland has broken the Guinness World Record for the longest busk.

From BBC

Such large venues are a drastic change of scenery for the 31-year-old singer, who began his musical career busking in Medellín buses and streets, and was once dubbed “El Cantante Del Ghetto.”

From Los Angeles Times

A pop-up shop selling merchandise will be set up, and there will be live busking in Alderman Park next to Portman Road stadium from 13:30 daily.

From BBC