[f. BUZZ v.1 + -ING2.]
1. Making, or characterized by, a sibilant humming.
1556. J. Heywood, Spider & F., ii. 13. What is this buzzynge blumberinge trow we: thunder?
1600. Maydes Metam., I. in O. Pl. (1882), I. 113. Bees … Whose buzing musick … shall her sences greet.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., III. 239. A fierce loud buzzing Breez.
1727. Thomson, Summer, 231. In a corner of the buzzing shade.
1827–8. Lamb, in Poems (Chandos), 559.
1843. Macaulay, Lays, Virginia, 25. Where’er ye shed the honey, the buzzing flies will crowd.
b. Said of sounds.
1635. Swan, Spec. M., v. § 2 (1643), 117. A kind of buzzing noise.
1844. Dufton, Deafness, 85. Pains over the forehead … succeeded by a buzzing noise.
2. Whispering, muttering; busily talking, full of busy talk.
1577. Holinshed, Chron., III. 840/1. A companie of bussing monks.
1618. Barnevelt’s Apol., B iv. Buzzing whisperer, tell mee, [etc.].
1735. Somerville, Chase, II. 306. The buzzing Multitudes.
1818. Byron, Ch. Har., IV. cxlii. Where buzzing nations choked the ways.
Hence Buzzingly adv.
1856. W. B. Baikie, Narr. Expl. Voy., iv. 82. These little pests seemed to become reconciled to the smell of our tobacco, or even to enjoy it, and darting through the clouds with which we enveloped ourselves, buzzingly mocked at us.
1861. Dickens, Gt. Expect., x. The pupils … buzzingly passed a ragged book from hand to hand.
