buster
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buster¹
Rhymes with -ʌstə(ɹ)
Where it comes from
Originally a dialectal variant of burster; later influenced by bust + -er.
The combining form of the term has appeared from the early 20th century but been especially prolific during three periods: in the 1930s, owing to the success of the radio series Gang Busters; in the 1940s, owing to its appearance as military slang; and in the 1980s, owing to the success of the movie Ghostbusters.
noun busters
- Someone who or something that bursts, breaks, or destroys a specified thing. Now death, I pray thee what is it, but a buster of bonds; a destruction of toyle?
- Forming compounds denoting a team, weapon, or device specialized in the destruction of the first element. German ‘balloon busters’ attack the Dover barrage.
- A broncobuster. The buster must be careful to keep well away from sheds and timber.
- Forming compounds denoting an agent or agency tasked with reducing or eliminating the first element. Men nicknamed him the ‘Booze Buster’, and cartoonists loved to picture him, revolver in hand,... fighting the demon rum.
- Someone or something remarkable, especially for being loud, large, etc. ‘I had to clean this old roarer,’ continued the ‘editor’... as he wiped the barrel of his pistol. ‘She's a buster, I tell you.’
- A form of address, particularly of men: guy, dude, fella, mack, buddy, loser. (Originally as 'old buster'.) That's generous, old buster.
- A loaf of bread. Three penny busters, and a whole kit-full of winegar and mustard.
- A drinking spree, a binge. They were on a buster, and were taken up by the police.
- A gale, a strong wind; (especially Australia) a southerly buster. ‘This is a buster,’ i.e. a powerful or heavy wind.
- A heavy fall; (also performing arts) a staged fall, a pratfall. Dainty... came down ‘a buster’ at the last hurdle, and Scots Grey cantered in by himself.
- A molting crab. In that state he is called a ‘Buster’, bursting his shell.
- A cheat's die whose sides bear only certain combinations of spots, so that undesirable values can never be rolled. Tops and Bottoms (also Tops, Busters, Ts, Mis-spots): These are the dice used by the professional cheats.
Buster²
- /ˈbʌstɚ/ US
- /ˈbʌstə/ UK
Where it comes from
From Austrian German Buste (“pockmark, boil”), from Latin apostema (“boil”), + -er.
proper noun
- A surname.
Buster³
- /ˈbʌstɚ/ US
- /ˈbʌstə/ UK
Where it comes from
From buster.
proper noun
- A male given name.
- A male nickname.
-
Synonym of guy, term of address for a man or person.
Beginning with a curt “Listen, Buster,” she proceeded to sketch out with admirable clearness the salient points in the situation as she envisaged it [...] “I thought she was splendidly firm.” “Yes, sir.” “It's the red hair that does it, I imagine.” “Yes, sir.” “If anyone had told me that I should li
Similar: guy, term of address for a man or person
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: baby buster, fella, laddie, bronco, lad, boy, buddy, friend, man, dude, cowboy, jackass, bullfighter, mate, bro, dawg
Translations
Every language
noun person or thing that breaks or overwhelms
| Deutsch | Brecher, Aufbrecher, Knacker, Zersprenger |
|---|
noun guy, friend
| Español | tipo, tío, amigo |
|---|---|
| Français | pote |
| Deutsch | Freundchen, Kerlchen, Junge, Alter, Kerl |
| Русский | па́рень párenʹ, друг drug |
noun loser, uncool person
| Español | boludo, huevón |
|---|---|
| Português | otário |
| Deutsch | Loser, Idiot |
| Русский | неуда́чник neudáčnik, стрёмный чува́к strjómnyj čuvák |
Talk about this word "buster." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/buster. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. buster. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/buster "buster." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/buster.Cite this
@misc{buster_2026,
title = {buster},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/buster},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
