Chapter 211

Bus"by (?) , n. ; pl. Busbies (<?/) . (Mil.) A military headdress or cap, used in the British army. It is of fur, with a bag, of the same color as the facings of the regiment, hanging from the top over the right shoulder.

Buscon <Xpage=195>

Bus"con (?) , n. [Sp., a searcher, fr. buscar to search.] One who searches for ores; a prospector. [U.S.]

Bush <Xpage=195>

Bush (?) , n. [OE. bosch , busch , buysch , bosk , busk ; akin to D. bosch , OHG. busc , G. busch , Icel. b<?/skr , b<?/ski , Dan. busk , Sw. buske , and also to LL. boscus , buscus , Pr. bosc , It. bosco , Sp. & Pg. bosque , F. bois , OF. bos . Whether the LL. or G. form i<?/ the original is uncertain; if the LL., it is perh. from the same source as E. box a case. Cf. Ambush , Boscage , Bouquet , Box a case.] 1. A thicket, or place abounding in trees or shrubs; a wild forest.

&hand; This was the original sense of the word, as in the Dutch bosch , a wood, and was so used by Chaucer. In this sense it is extensively used in the British colonies, especially at the Cape of Good Hope, and also in Australia and Canada; as, to live or settle in the bush .

2. A shrub; esp., a shrub with branches rising from or near the root; a thick shrub or a cluster of shrubs.

To bind a bush of thorns among sweet-smelling flowers. Gascoigne.

3. A shrub cut off, or a shrublike branch of a tree; as, bushes to support pea vines .

4. A shrub or branch, properly, a branch of ivy (as sacred to Bacchus), hung out at vintners' doors, or as a tavern sign; hence, a tavern sign, and symbolically, the tavern itself.

If it be true that good wine needs no bush , 't is true that a good play needs no epilogue. Shak.

5. (Hunting) The tail, or brush, of a fox.

To beat about the bush , to approach anything in a round-about manner, instead of coming directly to it; -- a metaphor taken from hunting. -- Bush bean (Bot.) , a variety of bean which is low and requires no support ( Phaseolus vulgaris , variety nanus ). See Bean , 1. -- Bush buck , &or; Bush goat (Zo\'94l.) , a beautiful South African antelope ( Tragelaphus sylvaticus ); -- so called because found mainly in wooden localities. The name is also applied to other species. -- Bush cat (Zo\'94l.) , the serval. See Serval . -- Bush chat (Zo\'94l.) , a bird of the genus Pratincola , of the Thrush family. -- Bush dog . (Zo\'94l.) See Potto . -- Bush hammer . See Bushhammer in the Vocabulary. -- Bush harrow (Agric.) See under Harrow . -- Bush hog (Zo\'94l.) , a South African wild hog ( Potamoch\'d2rus Africanus ); -- called also bush pig , and water hog . -- Bush master (Zo\'94l.) , a venomous snake ( Lachesis mutus ) of Guinea; -- called also surucucu . -- Bush pea (Bot.) , a variety of pea that needs to be bushed. -- Bush shrike (Zo\'94l.) , a bird of the genus Thamnophilus , and allied genera; -- called also batarg . Many species inhabit tropical America. -- Bush tit (Zo\'94l.) , a small bird of the genus Psaltriparus , allied to the titmouse. P. minimus inhabits California.

Bush <Xpage=195>

Bush (?) , v. i. To branch thickly in the manner of a bush. "The bushing alders."

Pope.

Bush <Xpage=195>

Bush , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Bushed (<?/); p. pr. & vb.n . Bushing .] 1. To set bushes for; to support with bushes; as, to bush peas .

2. To use a bush harrow on (land), for covering seeds sown; to harrow with a bush; as, to bush a piece of land; to bush seeds into the ground.

Bush <Xpage=195>

Bush , n. [D. bus a box, akin to E. box ; or F. boucher to plug.] 1. (Mech.) A lining for a hole to make it smaller; a thimble or ring of metal or wood inserted in a plate or other part of machinery to receive the wear of a pivot or arbor.

Knight.

&hand; In the larger machines, such a piece is called a box , particularly in the United States.

2. (Gun.) A piece of copper, screwed into a gun, through which the venthole is bored.

Farrow.

Bush <Xpage=195>

Bush , v. t. To furnish with a bush, or lining; as, to bush a pivot hole .

Bushboy <Xpage=195>

Bush"boy (?) , n. See Bushman .

Bushel <Xpage=195>

Bush"el (?) , n. [OE. buschel , boischel , OF. boissel , bussel , boistel , F. boisseau , LL. bustellus ; dim. of bustia , buxida (OF. boiste ), fr. pyxida , acc. of L. pyxis box, Gr. <?/. Cf. Box .] 1. A dry measure, containing four pecks, eight gallons, or thirty-two quarts.

&hand; The Winchester bushel, formerly used in England, contained 2150.42 cubic inches, being the volume of a cylinder 18<?/ inches in internal diameter and eight inches in depth. The standard bushel measures, prepared by the United States Government and distributed to the States, hold each 77.6274 pounds of distilled water, at 39.8\'f8 Fahr. and 30 inches atmospheric pressure, being the equivalent of the Winchester bushel. The imperial bushel now in use in England is larger than the Winchester bushel, containing 2218.2 cubic inches, or 80 pounds of water at 62\'f8 Fahr.

2. A vessel of the capacity of a bushel, used in measuring; a bushel measure.

Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel , or under a bed, and not to be set on a candlestick? Mark iv. 21.

3. A quantity that fills a bushel measure; as, a heap containing ten bushels of apples .

&hand; In the United States a large number of articles, bought and sold by the bushel, are measured by weighing, the number of pounds that make a bushel being determined by State law or by local custom. For some articles, as apples, potatoes, etc., heaped measure is required in measuring a bushel.

4. A large indefinite quantity. [Colloq.]

The worthies of antiquity bought the rarest pictures with bushels of gold, without counting the weight or the number of the pieces. Dryden.

5. The iron lining in the nave of a wheel. [Eng.] In the United States it is called a box . See 4th Bush .

Bushelage <Xpage=195>

Bush"el*age (?) , n. A duty payable on commodities by the bushel. [Eng.]

Bushelman <Xpage=195>

Bush"el*man (?) , n. A tailor's assistant for repairing garments; -- called also busheler . [Local, U.S.]

Bushet <Xpage=195>

Bush"et (?) , n. [See Bosket .] A small bush.

Bushfighter <Xpage=195>

Bush"fight`er (?) , n. One accustomed to bushfighting.

Parkman.

Bushfighting <Xpage=195>

Bush"fight`ing (?) , n. Fighting in the bush, or from behind bushes, trees, or thickets.

Bushhammer <Xpage=195>

Bush"ham`mer (?) , n. A hammer with a head formed of a bundle of square bars, with pyramidal points, arranged in rows, or a solid head with a face cut into a number of rows of such points; -- used for dressing stone.

Bushhammer <Xpage=195>

Bush"ham`mer , v. t. To dress with bushhammer; as, to bushhammer a block of granite .

Bushiness <Xpage=195>

Bush"i*ness (?) , n. The condition or quality of being bushy.

Bushing <Xpage=195>

Bush"ing , n. [See 4th Bush .] 1. The operation of fitting bushes, or linings, into holes or places where wear is to be received, or friction diminished, as pivot holes, etc.

2. (Mech.) A bush or lining; -- sometimes called <?/ thimble . See 4th Bush .

Bushless <Xpage=195>

Bush"less (?) , a. Free from bushes; bare.

O'er the long backs of the bushless downs. Tennyson.

Bushman <Xpage=195>

Bush"man (?) , n. ; pl. Bushmen (#) . [Cf. D. boschman , boschjesman . See 1st Bush .] 1. A woodsman; a settler in the bush.

2. (Ethnol.) One of a race of South African nomads, living principally in the deserts, and not classified as allied in race or language to any other people.

Bushment <Xpage=195>

Bush"ment (?) , n. [OE. busshement ambush, fr. bush .] 1. A thicket; a cluster of bushes. [Obs.]

Raleigh.

2. An ambuscade. [Obs.]

Sir T. More.

Bushranger <Xpage=195>

Bush"ran`ger (?) , n. One who roams, or hides, among the bushes; especially, in Australia, an escaped criminal living in the bush.

Bushwhacker <Xpage=195>

Bush"whack`er (?) , n. 1. One accustomed to beat about, or travel through, bushes. [U.S.]

They were gallant bushwhackers , and hunters of raccoons by moonlight. W. Irving.

2. A guerrilla; a marauding assassin; one who pretends to be a peaceful citizen, but secretly harasses a hostile force or its sympathizers. [U.S.]

Farrow.

Bushwhacking <Xpage=195>

Bush"whack`ing , n. 1. Traveling, or working a way, through bushes; pulling by the bushes, as in hauling a boat along the bushy margin of a stream. [U.S.]

T. Flint.

2. The crimes or warfare of bushwhackers. [U.S.]

Bushy <Xpage=195>

Bush"y (?) , a. [From 1st Bush .] 1. Thick and spreading, like a bush. " Bushy eyebrows."

Irving.

2. Full of bushes; overgrowing with shrubs.

Dingle, or bushy dell, of this wild wood. Milton.

Busily <Xpage=195>

Bus"i*ly (?) , adv. In a busy manner.

Business <Xpage=195>

Busi"ness (?) , n. ; pl. Businesses (#) . [From Busy .] 1. That which busies one, or that which engages the time, attention, or labor of any one, as his principal concern or interest, whether for a longer or shorter time; constant employment; regular occupation; as, the business of life; business before pleasure.

Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business ? Luke ii. 49.

2. Any particular occupation or employment engaged in for livelihood or gain, as agriculture, trade, art, or a profession. "The business of instruction."

Prescott.

3. Financial dealings; buying and selling; traffic in general; mercantile transactions.

It seldom happens that men of a studious turn acquire any degree of reputation for their knowledge of business . Bp. Popteus.

4. That which one has to do or should do; special service, duty, or mission.

The daughter of the King of France, On serious business , craving quick despatch, Importunes personal conference. Shak.

What business has the tortoise among the clouds? L'Estrange.

5. Affair; concern; matter; -- used in an indefinite sense, and modified by the connected words.

It was a gentle business , and becoming The action of good women. Shak.

Bestow Your needful counsel to our business . Shak.

6. (Drama) The position, distribution, and order of persons and properties on the stage of a theater, as determined by the stage manager in rehearsal.

7. Care; anxiety; diligence. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

To do one's business , to ruin one. [Colloq.] Wycherley . -- To make (a thing) one's business , to occupy one's self with a thing as a special charge or duty. [Colloq.] -- To mean business , to be earnest. [Colloq.]

Syn. -- Affairs; concern; transaction; matter; engagement; employment; calling; occupation; trade; profession; vocation; office; duty.

Businesslike <Xpage=195>

Busi"ness*like` (?) , a. In the manner of one transacting business wisely and by right methods.

Busk <Xpage=195>

Busk (?) , n. [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. b\'96che , a piece or log of wood, fr. the same root.] 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 <Xpage=195>

Busk , v. t. & i. [ imp. & p. p. Busked (#) .] [OE. busken , fr. Icel. b<?/ask to make one's self ready, rexlexive of b<?/a to prepare, dwell. Cf. 8th Bound .] 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.

Busked <Xpage=195>

Busked (?) , a. Wearing a busk.

Pollok.

Busket <Xpage=195>

Bus"ket (?) , n. [See Bosket , Bouquet .] 1. A small bush; also, a sprig or bouquet. [Obs.]

Spenser.

2. A part of a garden devoted to shrubs. [R.]

Buskin <Xpage=195>

Bus"kin (?) , n. [Prob. from OF. brossequin , or D. broosken . See Brodekin .] 1. A strong, protecting covering for the foot, coming some distance up the leg.

The hunted red deer's undressed hide Their hairy buskins well supplied. Sir W. Scott.

2. A similar covering for the foot and leg, made with very thick soles, to give an appearance of elevation to the stature; -- worn by tragic actors in ancient Greece and Rome. Used as a symbol of tragedy, or the tragic drama, as distinguished from comedy.

Great Fletcher never treads in buskins here, No greater Jonson dares in socks appear. Dryden.

Buskined <Xpage=195>

Bus"kined (?) , a. 1. Wearing buskins.

Her buskined virgins traced the dewy lawn. Pope.

2. Trodden by buskins; pertaining to tragedy. "The buskined stage."

Milton.

Busky <Xpage=195>

Bus"ky (?) , a. See Bosky , and 1st Bush , n.

Shak.

Buss <Xpage=195>

Buss (?) , n. [OE. basse , fr. L. basium ; cf. G. bus ( Luther ), Prov. G. busserl , dim. of bus kiss, bussen to kiss, Sw. puss kiss, pussa to kiss, W. & Gael. bus lip, mouth.] A kiss; a rude or playful kiss; a smack.

Shak.

<page="196"> Page 196

Buss <Xpage=196>

Buss (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Bussed (#) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Bussing .] To kiss; esp. to kiss with a smack, or rudely. "Nor bussed the milking maid."

Tennyson.

Kissing and bussing differ both in this, We buss our wantons, but our wives we kiss. Herrick.

Buss <Xpage=196>

Buss , n. [Cf. OF. busse , Pr. bus , LL. bussa , busa , G. b\'81se , D. buis .] (Naut.) A small strong vessel with two masts and two cabins; -- used in the herring fishery.

The Dutch whalers and herring busses . Macaulay.

Bust <Xpage=196>

Bust (?) , n. [F. buste , fr. It. busto ; cf. LL. busta , bustula , box, of the same origin as E. box a case; cf., for the change of meaning, E. chest . See Bushel .] 1. A piece of sculpture representing the upper part of the human figure, including the head, shoulders, and breast.

Ambition sighed: she found it vain to trust The faithless column, and the crumbling bust . Pope.

2. The portion of the human figure included between the head and waist, whether in statuary or in the person; the chest or thorax; the upper part of the trunk of the body.

Bustard <Xpage=196>

Bus"tard (?) , n. [OF. & Prov. F. bistarde , F. outarde , from L. avis tarda , lit., slow bird. Plin . 10, 22; "proxim\'91 iis sunt, quas Hispania aves tardas appellat, Gr\'91cia <?/."] (Zo\'94l.) A bird of the genus Otis .

&hand; The great or bearded bustard ( Otis tarda ) is the largest game bird in Europe. It inhabits the temperate regions of Europe and Asia, and was formerly common in Great Britain. The little bustard ( O. tetrax ) inhabits eastern Europe and Morocco. Many other species are known in Asia and Africa.

Buster <Xpage=196>

Bus"ter (?) , n. Something huge; a roistering blade; also, a spree. [Slang, U.S.]

Bartlett.

Bustle <Xpage=196>

Bus"tle (?) , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Bustled (<?/); p. pr. & vb . n. Bustling (<?/).] [Cf. OE. buskle , perh. fr. AS. bysig busy, bysg-ian to busy + the verbal termination - le ; or Icel. bustla to splash, bustle.] To move noisily; to be rudely active; to move in a way to cause agitation or disturbance; as, to bustle through a crowd .

And leave the world for me to bustle in. Shak.

Bustle <Xpage=196>

Bus"tle , n. Great stir; agitation; tumult from stirring or excitement.

A strange bustle and disturbance in the world. South.

Bustle <Xpage=196>

Bus"tle , n. A kind of pad or cushion worn on the back below the waist, by women, to give fullness to the skirts; -- called also bishop , and tournure . <-- out of fashion by the 1900's -->

Bustler <Xpage=196>

Bus"tler (?) , n. An active, stirring person.

Bustling <Xpage=196>

Bus"tling (?) , a. Agitated; noisy; tumultuous; characterized by confused activity; as, a bustling crowd . "A bustling wharf."

Hawthorne.

Busto <Xpage=196>

Bus"to (?) , n. ; pl. Bustoes (<?/) /plu. [It.] A bust; a statue.

With some antick bustoes in the niches. Ashmole.

Busy <Xpage=196>

Bus"y (?) , a. [OE. busi , bisi , AS. bysig ; akin to D. bezig , LG. besig ; cf. Skr. bh<?/sh to be active, busy.] 1. Engaged in some business; hard at work (either habitually or only for the time being); occupied with serious affairs; not idle nor at leisure; as, a busy merchant .

Sir, my mistress sends you word THat she is busy , and she can not come. Shak.

2. Constantly at work; diligent; active.

Busy hammers closing rivets up. Shak.

Religious motives . . . are so busy in the heart. Addison.

3. Crowded with business or activities; -- said of places and times; as, a busy street .

To-morrow is a busy day. Shak.

4. Officious; meddling; foolish active.

On meddling monkey, or on busy ape. Shak.

5. Careful; anxious. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Syn. -- Diligent; industrious; assiduous; active; occupied; engaged.

Busy <Xpage=196>