Part 883

2. A guerrilla; a marauding assassin; one who pretends to be a peaceful citizen, but secretly harasses a hostile force or its sympathizers. [U.S.] Farrow.

Bush"whack`ing, n. 1. Traveling, or working a way, through bushes; pulling by the bushes, as in hauling a boat along the bushy margin of a stream. [U.S.] T. Flint.

2. The crimes or warfare of bushwhackers. [U.S.]

Bush"y (&?;), a. [From 1st Bush.] 1. Thick and spreading, like a bush. "Bushy eyebrows." Irving.

2. Full of bushes; overgrowing with shrubs.

Dingle, or bushy dell, of this wild wood. Milton.

Bus"i*ly (&?;), adv. In a busy manner.

Busi"ness (&?;), n.; pl. Businesses (&?;). [From Busy.] 1. That which busies one, or that which engages the time, attention, or labor of any one, as his principal concern or interest, whether for a longer or shorter time; constant employment; regular occupation; as, the business of life; business before pleasure.

Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? Luke ii. 49.

2. Any particular occupation or employment engaged in for livelihood or gain, as agriculture, trade, art, or a profession. "The business of instruction." Prescott.

3. Financial dealings; buying and selling; traffic in general; mercantile transactions.

It seldom happens that men of a studious turn acquire any degree of reputation for their knowledge of business. Bp. Popteus.

4. That which one has to do or should do; special service, duty, or mission.

The daughter of the King of France, On serious business, craving quick despatch, Importunes personal conference. Shak.

What business has the tortoise among the clouds? L'Estrange.

5. Affair; concern; matter; -- used in an indefinite sense, and modified by the connected words.

It was a gentle business, and becoming The action of good women. Shak.

Bestow Your needful counsel to our business. Shak.

6. (Drama) The position, distribution, and order of persons and properties on the stage of a theater, as determined by the stage manager in rehearsal.

7. Care; anxiety; diligence. [Obs.] Chaucer.

To do one's business, to ruin one. [Colloq.] Wycherley. -- To make (a thing) one's business, to occupy one's self with a thing as a special charge or duty. [Colloq.] -- To mean business, to be earnest. [Colloq.]

Syn. -- Affairs; concern; transaction; matter; engagement; employment; calling; occupation; trade; profession; vocation; office; duty.

Busi"ness*like` (&?;), a. In the manner of one transacting business wisely and by right methods.

Busk (bsk), n. [F. busc, perh. fr. the hypothetical older form of E. bois wood, because the first busks were made of wood. See Bush, and cf. OF. busche, F. bûche, a piece or log of wood, fr. the same root.] A thin, elastic strip of metal, whalebone, wood, or other material, worn in the front of a corset.

Her long slit sleeves, stiff busk, puff verdingall, Is all that makes her thus angelical. Marston.

Busk, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Busked (bskt).] [OE. busken, fr. Icel. bask to make one's self ready, rexlexive of ba to prepare, dwell. Cf. 8th Bound.] 1. To prepare; to make ready; to array; to dress. [Scot. & Old Eng.]

Busk you, busk you, my bonny, bonny bride. Hamilton.

2. To go; to direct one's course. [Obs.]