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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BOOSE, Boos, Booce, Bus, n.³ and v.³ [bus]

1. n.

(1) Excessive haste; a rush.Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.:
To come into the house with a “boose.”Sh.(D) 1922 J. Inkster Mansie's Röd 120; Abd.²² 1935:
Tammas cam furt jüist as we wan ta wir hight, an' he cam in a boos an' took da head o' da coffin.

(2) A turmoil.Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
De sea is in a b[us], the sea is in uproar.

2. v. To bustle about; “to work with a will” (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl., būs); to rush.Sh.(D) 1891 J. J. H. Burgess Rasmie's Büddie 92:
An noo an dann a lyrie comes An booces troo da steid. [A red coal-fish comes and pushes through the mass.]Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
He cam' busin in (into) de hoose.Ork. 1929 Marw.:
He was boosan aboot the hoose pittan things tae rights.Bnff.² 1934:
We a' liket the new demmie at Mains. She booset aboot the kitchie, dichtin' here an' snoddin' up there, an' the tongue o' her never lyin'.

Hence: (1) Boocin', busen, ppl.adj., bustling, energetic.Sh.(D) 1891 J. J. H. Burgess Rasmie's Büddie 44:
But an ben, Boocin' Baabie.Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928) s.v. busen:
Of fire: big, blazing, a b[usen] fire.

(2) Boossan, vbl.n., a bustling about.n.Sc. 1898 E.D.D.:
Sic a boossan oot an in she keepit a' day.