Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “boasting” come from?

Boasting comes from Middle English boosten, derived from Middle English bost, which traces to Proto-Germanic bausuz and ultimately Proto-Indo-European bʰew-.

boasting (English): present participle of boast; The making of boasts

Definitions

  1. present participle of boast; The making of boasts

Ancestry of “boasting”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishboastA brag; ostentatious positive appraisal of...
2Middle Englishbostento threaten
3Middle Englishbostboast, glory, noise, arrogance, presumption,...
4Anglo-Normanbost—
5Proto-Germanicbausuzinflated; swollen; puffed up; proud; arrogant;...
6Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰew-to grow, swell; to swell, wax, grow; to blow; to...

Words derived from “boasting”

  • boastingly
  • unboasting
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰew- →