Where does “busy” come from?

Busy comes from Middle English bisy, from Old English bisig, from Proto-West Germanic bisīg, of uncertain ultimate origin.

busy (English): Crowded with business or activities; having a...

Definitions

  1. Crowded with business or activities; having a...

Ancestry of “busy”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishbisyEngaged in activity; preoccupied; Having a strong...
2Old Englishbisiġbusy, occupied, diligent
3Proto-West Germanicbisīgzealous; diligent; busy; eident

Words derived from “busy”

Every word from Proto-West Germanic bisīg →Every word from Old English bisiġ →Every word from Middle English bisy →