Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Bussom(e, Bussum, n. Also: busom, bwsom, busum. [Variant of Bisom and Boosome.]

1. A besom, a broom. 1538 Treas. Acc. VIII. 160.
For fyfe bedonis to the pantreman … Item, for bussummys 1552–3 Edinb. Old Acc. I. 75.
Gevin to four men that dicht the calsay … Item, for twa sculis and bussumis to them 1553–4 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 351.
For bussomis to dicht the kirk with at Youle, Candilmes [etc.] 1565–6 Edinb. Old Acc. I. 503.
For busomes and walter and souping of the Tolbuith c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxxv. 34 (B).
Jonet the weido on ane bussome [M. bwsom] rydand 1582 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 124.
xvj hadder bussumis to decht the sclattis & gutteris 1610 Hilderstoun Silver Mines II. 112.
Ane bowtt of twyne to bind the bussomes 1672 Thanes of Cawdor 325.
Ane rouber with leid and ane brush bussom 1685 Soc. Ant. LVIII. 357.
2 rubbers. A Spanish bussome 1697 Househ. Bk. Gr. Baillie 168.
A busom for hangins

2. A bunch of twigs used as a scourge. 1552–3 Edinb. Old Acc. I. 77.
For the hale towis and bussumis usit be the lokman 1558–9 Ib. 279.
For cordis and bussomis to scurge thre laidis [= lads] 1561–2 Ib. 373.
For busomes and towis to scurge thre tinklaris with