Where does “busy” come from?

busy (Italian) comes from English busy, from Middle English bisy, from Old English bisiġ, from Proto-West Germanic bisīg — zealous; diligent; busy; eident.

busy (Italian): busy

Definitions

  1. busy

Ancestry of “busy”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishbusyCrowded with business or activities; having a...
2Middle EnglishbisyEngaged in activity; preoccupied; Having a strong...
3Old Englishbisiġbusy, occupied, diligent
4Proto-West Germanicbisīgzealous; diligent; busy; eident
Every word from Proto-West Germanic bisīg →Every word from Old English bisiġ →Every word from Middle English bisy →