Where does “bosom” come from?

bosom (Middle English) comes from Old English bōsm, from Proto-Germanic bōsmaz, from Proto-Indo-European bʰewH- — to blow; to be; to swell, bend, curve.

bosom (Middle English): The enclosure formed by the breast and arms, embrace

Definitions

  1. The enclosure formed by the breast and arms, embrace

Ancestry of “bosom”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishbōsmbreast, bosom, chest
2Proto-Germanicbōsmazbosom
3Proto-Indo-EuropeanbʰewH-to blow; to be; to swell, bend, curve

Words derived from “bosom”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰewH- →Every word from Proto-Germanic bōsmaz →Every word from Old English bōsm →