busby

[ buhz-bee ]

noun

, plural bus·bies.

1. a tall fur hat with a baglike ornament hanging from the top over the right side.
2. the bearskin hat worn by certain British guardsmen.

Busby

¹

/ ˈbʌzbɪ /

noun

1. BusbySir Matthew19091994MBritishSPORT AND GAMES: footballerSPORT AND GAMES: football manager Sir Matthew , known as Matt . 1909–94, British footballer. He managed Manchester United (1946–69)

busby

²

/ ˈbʌzbɪ /

noun

1. a tall fur helmet with a bag hanging from the top to the right side, worn by certain soldiers, usually hussars, as in the British Army
2. (not in official usage) another name for bearskin

Word History and Origins

Origin of busby¹

First recorded in 1755–65; originally, a bushy wig; of obscure origin

Word History and Origins

Origin of busby¹

C18 (in the sense: large bushy wig): perhaps from a proper name

Example Sentences

Every time she ate the head off one soldier, another grew up in its place, with a green military coat and a yellow busby.

From Literature

And the same click in the brain told Adam that his father was not a great man, that he was, indeed, a very strong-willed and concentrated little man wearing a huge busby.

From Literature

Magnificent purple thistles bristle against the razor wire of Bulgaria's new border fence, like gay busbies.

From BBC

They were wearing their hallmark red jackets and furry black bearskin hats known as busbies.

From Wall Street Journal

The scarlet of the massed bands of the Brigade of Guards and the bearskins of their busbies stood out boldly against this soft colour and hard white of the choir.

From The Guardian

Related Words

• hat
• helmet
• tiara
• turban