busk

[buhsk]

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.

busk

¹

/ 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

busk

²

/ bʌsk /

verb

1. to make ready; prepare

2. to dress or adorn

busk

³

/ bʌsk /

verb

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

Other Word Forms

• busker noun
• busking noun

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”

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

C14: from Old Norse būask , from būa to make ready, dwell; see _bower ¹

Origin of busk³

C20: perhaps from Spanish buscar to look for

Example Sentences

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

Read more on Los Angeles Times

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

Read more on BBC

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

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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.”

Read more on 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.

Read more on BBC