busk Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb play music in a public place and solicit money for it
    • three young men were busking in the plaza

WordNet

Busk noun
Etymology
F. busc, perh. fr. the hypothetical older form of E. bois wood, because the first busks were made of wood. See Bush, and cf. OF. busche, F. bûche, a piece or log of wood, fr. the same root.
Definitions
  1. A thin, elastic strip of metal, whalebone, wood, or other material, worn in the front of a corset.
    Her long slit sleeves, stiff busk, puff verdingall, Is all that makes her thus angelical. Marston.
Busk transitive verb & intransitive verb
Etymology
OE. busken, fr. Icel. bask to make one's self ready, rexlexive of ba to prepare, dwell. Cf. 8th Bound.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Busked
Definitions
  1. To prepare; to make ready; to array; to dress. Scot. & Old Eng.
    Busk you, busk you, my bonny, bonny bride. Hamilton.
  2. To go; to direct one's course. Obs.
    Ye might have busked you to Huntly banks. Skelton.

Webster 1913