abustleadj.
/əˈbʌsl/, U.S. /əˈbəs(ə)l/ Busy, bustling (with people, activity, etc.). Only in predicative use.
ΚΠ
1887 New Era (Humeston, Iowa) 17 Feb. Up springs Suzie, abustle with new life and activity.
1913 E. Ferber Roast Beef Medium ii. 34 Main Street..all a-bustle.
1968 J. G. Vermandel Murder Most Fair x. 67 It was a vast amount of floor area, abustle with people and activity, yet there didn't seem to be any appreciable noise.
1979 Economist 1 Dec. 62/3 The Israeli port of Eilat..is abustle again handling the tons of equipment the American contractors are importing.
2003 Callaloo 26 417 The noisier streets abustle with tense bodies in fervent search of green cards.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, December 2011; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
<
adj.1887