Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
BUSS, Bus, Bos, Boss, n.4 and v.2 [bʌs, bɔs Ork., but Sh. + bos]
1. n. See also Byss.
(1) “Light chaff and small particles from among corn” (Ork. 1929 Marw., s.v. boss).
(2) “The various soft and dry substances of which a bird's nest is composed; straw for a lair for animals” (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.; 1908 Jak. (1928) s.v. bos; 1914 Angus Gl.); “a pig's bed” (Cai.4 c.1920). Known to Cai.7 1937.Sh.(D) 1899 J. Spence Sh. Folk-Lore 230:
“Whaar there's tuss there's buss.” (Tuss — Broken pieces and refuse of hay or straw.)
2. v.
(1) “To rummage among buss” (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.).Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928) s.v. bos:
Der'r a moose or cat bosin among de strae.
(2) “To sift oats with the hands” (Ork. 1920 J. Firth in Old-Lore Misc., Ork., Sh., etc. IV. iv. 180).
(3) Frequentative form buset, “to litter animals, rake up the straw in the litter, to b[usel] among de strae” (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)).
[Norw. bos, bus, straw for bedding, grains or small pieces (Torp); Jak. gives Sw. dial. busslä, of swine: to root up the litter, make a lair.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Buss n.4, v.2". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 18 May 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/buss_n4_v2>
