busking

[buhs-king]

noun

1. the act or practice of entertaining by dancing, singing, juggling, etc., on the street or in a public place.

   When I lived and studied in London for a year and a half, I brought my guitar along and did some busking in the streets.

adjective

1. engaged in this kind of public entertainment.

   My interviewee was late meeting me in the square, so while waiting I struck up a conversation with a busking musician.

Word History and Origins

Origin of busking¹

First recorded in 1770–80; busk ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. ) for the noun; busk ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. ) for the adjective

Example Sentences

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

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

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

From BBC

Ms Millington's challenges have so far also included barefoot running, blacksmithing, beekeeping and busking on the streets of York in a turkey outfit playing Christmas songs on a kazoo.

From BBC