Where does “ghostbusting” come from?

ghostbusting (English) comes from English ghost, from Middle English gost, from Old English gāst, from Proto-West Germanic gaist, from Proto-Germanic gaistaz, from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰeysd- — anger, agitation.

ghostbusting (English): The activities of a ghostbuster; exorcism of...

Definitions

  1. The activities of a ghostbuster; exorcism of...

Ancestry of “ghostbusting”, step by step

ghostbusting traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English ghost

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishghostThe spirit; the soul of man; The disembodied...
2Middle Englishgosta spiritual being; angel, devil, spirit; soul of...
3Old Englishgāstbreath, soul, spirit, ghost, being
4Proto-West Germanicgaistghost, spirit
5Proto-Germanicgaistazterror, fear; spirit, ghost; mind
6Proto-Indo-Europeanǵʰeysd-anger, agitation

via English busting

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishbustingUrgently needing to urinate; present participle...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰeysd-