busy, adjective

Origin:
EnglishShow more Special uses of general English busy occupied, actively engaged.
1. [Found in general English, but very common in South African English, influenced by Afrikaans besig om te (+ verb) expressing continuous action.] Used predicatively: ‘in the process of’, often used redundantly, especially in the case of stative verbs, as ‘He was busy sleeping in his bed’.
1841 J.W. Appleyard War of Axe (1971) 6They had just slaughtered a beast at the great place and were busy preparing for eating.
1859 Cape Town Weekly Mag. 21 Jan. 12The people are..busy considering the question of union with the Transvaal Republic under President Pretorius.
1911 Farmer’s Weekly 15 Mar. 12At present they (sc. Parliament) were busy dealing with the matter (sc. the establishment of agricultural schools) in the Executive Committee.
1949 H.C. Bosman Cold Stone Jug (1969) 124Slangvel had pulled up his jersey above the level of his eyes, and was busy trying to jerk it off his head and shoulders.
a1951 H.C. Bosman Willemsdorp (1977) 102How flat that sounded, Mavis thought. Here was her mother just busy dramatising herself.
1968 K. McMagh Dinner of Herbs 96I rushed in and found the two infants busy having convulsions — as though there was not enough trouble that day.
1970 Farmer’s Weekly 21 Apr. 70 (advt)Dormer 4 tooth ewes with 22 lambs (busy lambing).
1974 Drum 8 July 58The mourners are busy singing like this: ‘Nearer My God to Thee,’ very sad indeed. Kid Tebello, I notice, is busy whispering I know not what into some non-voters ears.
1983 N.S. Ndebele Fools 27You are busy working your heart out at the white man’s, and your children are busy running wild.
1990 S.A. Botha in Frontline Feb. 10The woman was very bad indeed..wrecked and racked on the golden vine, sodden beyond sensibility, and busy dying.
2. [Influenced by Afrikaans besig met.] In the phrase busy with, engaged upon.
1930 Friend 25 Aug. 12Farmers are already busy with burning the veld, and there are signs of the grass growing.
1949 H.C. Bosman Cold Stone Jug (1969) 11I believe there are some men in the Swartklein Great Prison to-day busy with their fourth blue-coat.
1978 Fair Lady 8 Nov. (Suppl.) 13The Defence Force is busy with a project where artists and entertainers will be employed by them.
Used predicatively: ‘in the process of’, often used redundantly, especially in the case of stative verbs, as ‘He was busy sleeping in his bed’.
In the phrase busy with,engaged upon.
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bushy, nounn.butchery, nounn.
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