Etymology

Although there is no record of an OE *busc, its existence is usually assumed behind forms in /ʃ/ in place-names (see VEPN) and ME, PDE bush and  cp. in WGmc OS busc, MLG busch, MDu busc, bosc, OHG busc (Ger Busch). There are also ON cognates cp. OIcel buskr and buski ‘bush, scrub’ (cited once each by ONP, in the 14c. and 16c. respectively). ON input is, therefore, often adduced in order to help explain ME -sk variants, though the possibility of a native development of non-initial /sk/ remains. The uncertain historical relationship of the Gmc words with MLat busca, bosca, which could also account for ME /sk/, is further complication.

PGmc Ancestor

?*busk-

Proposed ON Etymon (OIcel representative)

buskr, buski ‘bush, scrub’
(ONP buski (sb.), buskr (sb.))

Other Scandinavian Reflexes

Icel buski, Sw buske; Icel buskr, Norw busk, Dan busk

OE Cognate

?*busc 

Phonological and morphological markers

[absence of palatalization of */sk/] (possibly diagnostic) (may not be applicable)

Summary category

CC2bc

Attestation

MED cites a number of -sk variants (earliest in ?c1250  Somer is comen & (Eg 613)); these appear mainly in N and E texts, but with some exceptions.  The onomastic evidence also suggests a predominantly northern distribution (see VEPN); Forms in -sk are still found in N an N/EM dial (see EDD and OED).

Occurrences in the Gersum Corpus

Gaw 182, 1437; WA 2851, 5239

Bibliography

MED bush (n.1) , OED bush (n.1) , HTOED , EDD busk (sb.1 and v.1), Dance busk, Bj. 137, buskr (sb.), de Vries buskr, Mag. buski, Torp NnEO busk, Falk-Torp busk(e), Nielsen busk, Hellquist buske, Orel *ƀuskaz, AEW busc, VEPN buskr