TO BUSK IT, verb. phr. (tramps’).—To sell obscene songs and books at bars and in taprooms; sometimes it implies selling other articles; also to ‘work’ public houses and certain spots as in itinerant musician, or vocalist, hence so also, BUSKING, and BUSKER = a man who sings and performs in public houses; an itinerant.
1851. H. MAYHEW, London Labour and the London Poor, I. 229. They obtained a livelihood by ‘BUSKING,’ as it is termed, or in other words, by offering their goods for sale only at the bars, or in the tap-rooms and parlours of taverns. Ibid., 234. From a furniture-carter of this description I received some most shocking details of having to ‘BUSK’ IT, as this taking about goods for sale is called by those in the trade. Ibid., III. 216. BUSKING is going into public-houses and playing, and singing, and dancing. Ibid., 222. I now thought I’d try what is termed ‘BUSKING;’ that is, going into public-houses and cutting likenesses of the company.
1883. Advt. Echo, May 10, 4, 6. BUSKING.—A player on the harp and violin wants a mate.
1887. Referee, 21 Aug., 3, 2. Mac himself … will appear in the Racecourse scene as a BUSKER.
FREE OF BOTH ENDS OF THE BUSK, phr. (venery).—Free of everything even to the LAST FAVOUR (q.v.).
d. 1796. BURNS, The Merry Muses (1800), 7. ‘Bonny Lass o’ Liviston’: old song revised by Burns. Wi BAITH ENDS O’ THE BUSK, I made me free.
