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.
Busk, v. Also: busc, buisk. [Northern ME. busk (c 1300), ON. búask, reflexive of búa to prepare.]
1. intr. To prepare oneself, get ready; to array or dress oneself. Freq. with to.1375 Barb. ii. 566.
His men in hy he gert be dycht, And buskyt of the toune to ryd Ib. ix. 358.
He gert his menȝe busk ilkane c1420 Wynt. v. 5710.
Quhen that he was Buskand for till say his mas Ib. viii. 4769.
He buskyd to reskwe thame then ?1438 Alex. i. 53.
Thay buskit as thay bidding haid, And fra the hoist euin out thay raid c1450-2 Howlat 148.
Than busk thai but blyn, mony bewschyris c1420 Ratis R. 1114.
Than buskis child to spek or ga a1500 Rauf C. 407.
With ane blyith cheir buskit that bald a1500 Seven S. 2478.
Quhen mes and mariage ware maid Than buskit the knycht withoutin baid c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 416.
I busk as I wer bailfull, bot blith is my hert 1560 Rolland Seven S. 98/29.
On a day the burges buskit to ride In far countreis
b. To make ready to go; to proceed.1375 Barb. x. 404.
Ane of the vachis … buskit thiddirward but baid c1420 Wynt. ix. 2622.
Schir Davy buskit hamwart sone c1475 Wall. vii. 818.
Thai … On the frayt folk buskyt with outyn baid a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 204.
Than thay buskit to the bynke, beirnis of the best Ib. 774.
He buskit to ane barfray
2. refl. To make (oneself) ready; to array (oneself).1375 Barb. i. 142.
He buskyt hym, but mar abad, And left purpos that he had tane a1400 Leg. S. xxvii. 1360.
But bad he buskit hym to fare c1420 Wynt. ii. 413.
He … buskyt hym delyverly In Egipt for to pas Ib. iii. 743.
He buskyt hym rycht honestly, And welle arayid his cumpany 1424 Acts II. 6/1.
That all men busk thame to be archaris fra thai be xij ȝere of eilde a1500 Seven S. 206.
The empryce … buskit hir on hir best wys With crovne on hed and coronale 1535 Stewart 1035.
Thai … buskit thame rycht sone on the best wys, Makand thame garmentis of ane gudlie gys
3. tr. To make ready, to prepare; to put in order; to array or dress.a1500 Henr. Fab. 1756.
The barne is eith to busk that is vnborne c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 402.
I buskit vp my barnis like baronis sonnis Id. lxi. 72.
Gar … busk him lyk ane beschopis muill 1569–70 Soc. Ant. VI. 52.
For ane paper of preynis to buisk the herauldis 1573 Sat. P. xxxix. 202.
Thay socht na taileȝours for to busc thair breikis 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I. .
Thow com … to Katherene Clerk … to haif buskit thi heid, ganging to thi mariege 1600-1610 Melvill 437.
Busk him as bonilie as ye can, … we sie the hornes of his mytre 1632–3 Misc. Spald. C. V. 103.
Ane compt for treis, dealis, and uther work … busking the croce c1650 Spalding I. 136.
Thay … buskit veray advantagiouslie thair muskattis round about the dykis of the kirk yaird 1680-6 Lauder Observes 7.
The French … busked up a dog in a goune like Cheiff Iustice Scrogs 1698 Foulis Acc. Bk. 229.
For fish hewcks … He busked them
b. Freq. in the p.p. buskit, prepared, etc.1375 Barb. xix. 320.
The Scottis men … On thair best wis buskit ilkane, Stude in the strynth c1475 Wall. vi. 546.
Wallace knew weill, … The kings palȝon, quhar it was buskit beyne a1500 Rauf C. 594.
Ane man in husband weid, Buskit busteously on breid 1513 Doug. vi. iv. 93.
Witles Discord, … Wymplit and buskit in a bludy bend 1533 Boece x. xvi. 392 b.
Ane secrete passage buskit with treis 1546 Lynd. Trag. Card. 333.
As gallandis buskit for to mak ane gyse 1573 Cath. Tr. 10/8.
Thair fals and erronius doctrine … being craftelie buskit with polite … termis a1605 Montg. Son. lxx. 10.
A bluiter buskit lyk a belly blind 1613 Glasgow Chart. II. 574.
Provyding the said William mak the twa chymnays … sufficientlie raisit and buskit abone with sucient work 1638 Bk. Pasquils 56.
Pyet preachers … From tope to toe buskit lyke a sport c1650 Spalding I. 19.
The ladie Frendracht … buskit in ane white plaid
