Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “buxom” come from?

Buxom comes from Middle English buxum, from Old English būhsum, derived from Old English būgan meaning "to bend," from Proto-Germanic beuganą, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European bʰūgʰ-.

buxom (English): Pliant, obedient, tractable; Submissive, humble,...

Definitions

  1. Pliant, obedient, tractable; Submissive, humble,...

Ancestry of “buxom”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishbowA weapon made of a curved piece of wood or other...
2Middle Englishbowebow; bowman
3Old Englishbogabow; arch
4Proto-West Germanicbogōarch, bow; bow
5Proto-Germanicbugôbow
6Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰugʰ-bow; arch
7Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰewgʰ-to bend; curve, arch

Words derived from “buxom”

  • buxomly
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰewgʰ- →