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

• busking noun
• busker 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

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.

Read more on 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.”

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

The suspension of two busking performance pitches in London's Leicester Square has come into force after a court ruling.

Read more on BBC