arch. and dial. Also 6–7 busse, 7 boss (dial.); pa. t. 6 bust. [Belongs to BUSS sb.2]

1

  1.  trans. To kiss. (See quot. 1648.)

2

1571.  R. Edwards, Damon & P., in Hazl., Dodsley, IV. 82. Your wife now will buss you.

3

1595.  Shaks., John, III. iv. 35. I will thinke thou smil’st, And busse thee as thy wife.

4

1648.  Herrick, Hesper. (1823), I. 266. Kissing and bussing differ both in this, We busse our wantons, but our wives we kisse.

5

1719.  D’Urfey, Pills (1872), V. 95. To every one that I did meet, I bravely bussed my Hand.

6

1847.  Tennyson, Princess, V. 213. You … Nor burnt the grange, nor buss’d the milking-maid.

7

1866.  G. Meredith, Vittoria, xxix. (1886), 300. Up with your red lips, and buss me a Napoleon salute.

8

  b.  fig.

9

1606.  Shaks., Tr. & Cr., IV. v. 220. Yond Towers, whose wanton tops do busse the clouds, Must kisse their owne feet. Ibid. (1607), Cor., III. ii. 75. Thy knee bussing the stones.

10

  2.  absol.

11

1635.  Quarles, Embl., II. viii. (1718), 93. Come buss and friends, my lamb.

12

1741.  Richardson, Pamela (1824), I. 69. I now forgive you heartily; let’s buss and be friends.

13

1879.  Browning, Ned Bratts, 265. So blubbered we, and bussed, and went to bed.

14