busk
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
To sell obscene songs and books at the bars and in the tap-rooms of public-houses. Sometimes it implies selling other articles. Also to "work" public-houses and certain spots as an itinerant musician or vocalist.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “busk” mean?
To sell obscene songs and books at the bars and in the tap-rooms of public-houses. Sometimes it implies selling other articles. Also to "work" public-houses and certain spots as an itinerant musician or vocalist.
Is “busk” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.