See Also: BUOY(law)
nun-buoy(dictionary)
buoy(2)(dictionary)
buoy(1)(dictionary)
life buoy(dictionary)
buoy 2, verb(dictionary)
buoy 1, noun(dictionary)
Buoy - Sailing(gambling)
Sea Buoy - Sailing(gambling)
Red Buoy - Sailing(gambling)

buoy(2) (iou)



buoy verb. L16.
[Branch I from Spanish boyar (see BUOYANT); branch II from BUOY noun.]
I. verb intrans. Rise to or float on the surface of a liquid; rise, swell (as the sea). L16-L17.
Shakespeare King Lear The sea..would have buoy'd up and quench'd the stelled fires.
a. Foll. by up: raise to the surface of a liquid; bring afloat (a sunken ship etc.). E17.
b. Keep from sinking, keep afloat. Usu. foll. by up. M17.
verb trans. fig. Sustain (a person, courage, etc.); raise (the spirits etc.), uplift, encourage. Usu. foll. by up. M17.
D. Cecil Belonging to a famous and venerated institution, and buoyed up by its confident corporate spirit.
II.
verb trans. Provide or mark (as) with a buoy or buoys. L16.