Get On The Bus

The wheels on the bus go 'round and 'round...

Saturdays are perfect days for vehicular surprises. Surprise, we’re talking about the many meanings of the word BUS!

Bus is an common word that means many things to many people. Most travelers are well acquainted with its primary usage:

bus (noun) - a large, elongated motor vehicle designed to carry passengers, usually along a fixed route or schedule
—to bus means to transport or import by bus or similar communal vehicle; to transport students from one school district to another

The word bus is actually a shortened version of the word omnibus. Apparently, an entrepreneur launched a public carriage service in Nantes, France in the early 1800s. The vehicle had a stop in front of a shop of hatmaker named Omnès, a name that is delightfully similar to the prefix OMNI- meaning all. The Latin word omnibus means for all, so this new vehicle was called voiture omnibus or “vehicle for all” until the name was gradually trimmed down to bus. However, omnibus remains a common word in English separate from connotations of communal transport:

omnibus (adj) - of, pertaining to, or combining multiple objects or items at once; comprehensive or inclusive
—omnibus as a noun is a collection of works by the same author or related by topic; an anthology

The concept of a bus as a vehicle for all has come to transcend the literal road to refer to more figurative digital pathways:

bus (noun) - a communication system that transfers data between components inside or between computing devices; an electronic pathway through which data can be transferred

This word has also been common in restaurants since the early 1900s, when the term busboy was coined to refer to a a waiter’s assistant who did everything, including remove dishes from tables:

bus (verb) - to clear tables in a restaurant
—a busboy, busgirl, or busperson, or busser is someone who removes dirty dishes and resets tables in a restaurant or cafeteria

A more modern usage of the word is related to the term bussin‘ meaning something is extremely good, impressive, or bursting with flavor, likely derived from the word bursting.

bus (adj) - delicious, excellent, or amazing

The utility and ubiquity of the motor coach in modern times has inspired a variety of entertaining idioms associated with busses:

• ride the struggle bus - to be challenged temporarily or chronically by a particular situation or with life in general

• the wheels came off the bus - everything fell apart; an effort or endeavor went terribly wrong

• throw/thrown under the bus - to unfairly pin blame on someone or be so blamed; to scapegoat or be scapegoated

This final popular phrase has inspired a new word that seems destined for prevalence in political commentary:

underbus (verb) - to unfairly discredit, betray, or abandon someone for personal benefit; to avoid blame or criticism by conferring responsibility on someone else

“Everyone wants to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down.” –Oprah Winfrey