I too had wondered. I remember my surprise when reading Gosson to find
that "buss" for kiss was in use back then, and not only "buss" but (again
in Gosson), "smooch." You remember that dancing, he says, encourages such
goings-on. Anne.
>>I presume you've eliminated "buss" as in lascivious kiss in this context?
>> q.v. 'Kissing and bussing differ both in this, / We buss our wantons,
>> but
>> our wives we kiss.' (Herrick)
>
> I was wondering the same thing: it would still fit quite well with the
> general interpretation of Buys as someone who 'fancies himself'. I was
> also
> wondering, however, what the pronunciation of Buys might be, and how that
> would affect the punning possibilities?
>
> Charlie
>
|