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Busk vs Brusk - What's the difference?

busk | brusk |

As a noun busk

is a strip of metal, whalebone, wood, or other material, worn in the front of a corset to stiffen it or busk can be (obsolete) a kind of linen.

As a verb busk

is to prepare; to make ready; to array; to dress or busk can be to solicit money by entertaining the public in the street or in public transport.

As an adjective brusk is

brusque.

busk

English

(Webster 1913)

Etymology 1

From (etyl) busc, by dissimilation from buste from (etyl) busto.

Noun

(en noun)
  • A strip of metal, whalebone, wood, or other material, worn in the front of a corset to stiffen it.
  • * Marston
  • Her long slit sleeves, stiff busk , puff verdingall, / Is all that makes her thus angelical.
  • (by extension) A corset.
  • * 1661 , John Donne, "To his Mistress going to Bed":
  • Off with that happy busk , which I envie, / That still can be, and still can stand so nigh.

    Etymology 2

    Etymology

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) A kind of linen.
  • * 1882 , James Edwin Thorold Rogers, A History of Agriculture and Prices in England , Volume 4, p. 557:
  • Busk, a kind of table linen, occurs first in 1458, and occasionally afterwards.

    Etymology 3

    From (etyl) busken, from (etyl)

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To prepare; to make ready; to array; to dress.
  • Busk you, busk you, my bonny, bonny bride. — Hamilton.
  • *
  • The watch stert up and drew their weapons bright
    And busk'd them bold to battle and to fight. — Fairfax.
  • To go; to direct one's course. [Obs.]
  • Ye might have busked you to Huntly banks. — Skelton.

    Etymology 4

    Apparently from (etyl) busquer or (etyl) buscar.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To solicit money by entertaining the public in the street or in public transport
  • (nautical) To tack, to cruise about.
  • Noun

    (nb-noun-m1)
  • a bush or shrub
  • References

    * ----

    brusk

    English

    Adjective

    (en-adj)
  • (US)
  • ----