Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. to engage in (adulterous) sexual intercourse [but note SE buss, to kiss].

1566

W. Adlington (trans) Golden Asse 89: [H]is wives lover secretely came into his house to have his pleasure with her. And so it chaunced that during the time that he & she were busking together, her husbande suspectinge no suche matter [...] returned home.

2. to sell obscene songs and books in the streets and public houses; thus busking n.

[1603		Dekker Wonderfull Yeare 34: The worst players Boy stood vpon his good parts, swearing tragicall and busking oathes, that how vilainously soeuer he randed [...] he would in despite of his honest audience, be halfe a sharer (at least) at home, or else strowle (thats to say trauell) with some notorious wicked floundering company abroad].
1859		Hotten Dict. of Modern Sl. etc. 14: BUSK, or busking, to sell obscene songs and books at the bars and in the tap-rooms of public houses. Sometimes implies selling any articles.
1861		(con. 1840s–50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor (1968) I 216: There was formerly, also, another class, differing little from the habits of that variety of patterers of the present day who ‘busk’ it, or ‘work the public houses’.
1873		Sl. Dict.
1935		R.T. Hopkins Life and Death at the Old Bailey 63: The following crook’s words and phrases date from the days of the old Old Bailey: [...] selling obscene songs – busking.

3. to sell goods to a retailer; thus on the busk.

1861

(con. 1840s–50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor III 224/2: 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.] 226/2: Almost every man in the trade works on his account, finds his own material, and goes ‘on the busk to the slaughter-houses’ for the chance of a customer.

4. to work as a street performer; thus busking n.

1825		Egan Life of an Actor 212: I agreed with my clown, Tom Jeffries, who could sing a good low comedy song, Mr. Brown, a musician, and myself, to busk our way up to London.
1861		(con. 1840s–50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor III 212/2: I now thought I’d try what is termed ‘busking;’ that is, going into public-houses and cutting likenesses of the company.
1864		G.A. Sala Quite Alone III 88: It’s enough to make a fellow take to the busking game.
1882		Dundee Courier 18 Aug. 7/4: I was getting on pretty well at ‘busking’ (singing) the public houses.
1883		advert in Echo 10 May 46: Busking – A player on the harp and violin wants a mate [F&H].
1900		G.R. Sims In London’s Heart 106: Tom Verity was ‘busking’ with a nigger troupe.
1900–10		Stephens & O’Brien Materials for a Dict. of Aus. Sl. [unpub. ms.] 22: BUSK, BUSKING: [...] street instrumentalists or vocalists are called buskers – the profession busking.
1906		O.C. Malvery Soul Market 38: We had a chance of ‘busking’—that is, of giving a sort of variety entertainment in the streets.
a.1909		press cutting in J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era 57/2: Hang it, I hope I shall never come down to regular busking; yes, now and again when bis. is bad, but for ever – Lord forbid.
1920		Marvel 29 May 5: If you and me went busking on the sands at Blackpool, we’d make a pile of money!
1935		X. Petulengro Romany Life 231: I made busking a whole-time job.
1935		Thieves Slang ms list from District Police Training Centre, Ryton-on-Dunsmore, Warwicks n.p.: Busking: Singing or playing an instrument in street or public house.
1941		K. Tennant Battlers 17: His track name was Duke, and he had been ‘busking’—singing his way from town to town.
1976		(ref. to 1950s) R. Barnes Coronation Cups and Jam Jars 181: During the course of my busking career, I picked up with a banjo player from Hoxton.
1989		(con. 1950s–60s) in G. Tremlett Little Legs 45: I would be out busking or working my fruit barrows.
1997		R. Barnard No Place of Safety 27: Many of the temporary residents begged in the centre of Leeds, or busked.
2000		Guardian Rev. 21 Apr. 14: Dwight will [...] receive a reprimand from Stonehenge security guards for ‘busking’.
2013		Cape Times (SA) 12 July 🌐 Six law enforcement officers [...] forcibly detained blind busker [...] Nono, 51, [who] was dragged away from the spot where he has busked since 2008.

5. to act evasively, to speak spontaneously (to preserve one’s position).

2018

I. Welsh Dead Man’s Trousers [42]: Simon David Williamson decides it’s time to stop busking it. — I’m saying nothing more till my lawyer gets here.