chiefly British
: a person who entertains in a public place for donations
-ed/-ing/-s
1
dialectal, British
: to make ready : prepare
they're busking the Covenant for sea—R. L. Stevenson
2
dialectal, British
: to dress up : adorn
cowslips busk the brae
3
dialectal, British
: to dress (flies) on hooks for fishing
dialectal, British
: to make oneself ready especially hastily : hurry up
plural -s
: a thin rigid strip (as of metal, whalebone, or wood) inserted in the front of a bodice or corset for stiffening and support used from the 16th to the 19th centuries
plural -s
: a Creek Indian festival of first-fruits and purification that was celebrated when the first green corn was edible and that marked the beginning of the new year
-ed/-ing/-s
British
: to entertain especially by singing or reciting on the street or in a pub
Cite this Entry
“Busker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/busker. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.
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