A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Busch(e)ment, n. Also: busche-, bush-. [ME. busshement (Gower), buschement, etc., reduced form of embusshement ambushment.]
1. The disposition of armed men in concealment. Freq. in (a) buschment, in ambush. Also fig., stratagem.1375 Barb. viii. 442.
A buschement slely maid he thair a1400 Leg. S. xviii. 384.
Grant til ws the our-cummyne, … of his fals purches … For he cane fele buschment ma Ib. xxvi. 320.
He … sawyt thame quhene thai nere schent Ware be the fende & his buschment c1420 Wynt. v. 3075.
Wytht ane buschement he had slayne Traen Ib. viii. 1534.
Thai In to prywy buschement lay Waytand the Erle ?1438 Alex. ii. 2881.
He … Tald him all … Of thare bushment and thare cuming Ib. 2893.
Vthir sall in bushment byde 1492 Myll Spect. 280/26.
In to quhilk tempill Parys with gret nowmer of armyt knychtis was hyd in buschement 1533 Boece iv. x. 141.
Fering Romanis mycht be tranyt apoun ane buschment Ib. v. vii. 176 b.
Thir Iberniens … hid thame amang thik rammell … in buschment 1535 Stewart 3945.
Exploratouris that tyme tha send till spy Gif ony baid in buschment neir hand by Ib. 52079.
Out of ane buschment brak Richt mony bald men in behind thair bak
2. A party placed or lying in ambush; also, generally, a company of fighting men.1375 Barb. iv. 414.
Thair buschement apon thame brak Ib. vi. 415.
Thai sped thame fleand, quhill thai Fer by thar buschement war all past c1420 Wynt. vii. 2524.
The wayis befor him stoppyd wes Be gret buschementys off Inglis men Ib. viii. 3192.
In a wode … Thare was a buschement prewaly Set ?1438 Alex. i. 1871.
Thre buschmentis in full great hy Come to the stour c1475 Wall. iv. 429.
Fast on to Tay his buschement can he draw Ib. ix. 1638.
Thairwith the buschement brak 1531 Bell. Boece I. 76.
The Britonis, wide skatterit in sindry buschementis, eschapit nocht Id. Livy I. 19/13.
Ane buschement of brigantes lay in wate 1542 Hamilton P. I. 158.
Thyr men coime betuix our forraye and our buschement 1550 Crim. Trials I. 357.
To vnderly the law for umbesetting of the gait of Alexander Cummyng, and laying of ane grete buschement of futemen … vpoun the said Alexander 1573 Sat. P. xxxix. 1.
Buschment of Beruik, mak ȝow for the gait 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 349.
Schortlie efter lang heicht talk, ane buschment of Inglis bowmen schot their arrowes amang the company of Scottis
