bosom

The story

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*bʰewH-“to swell, bend, curve”
2. Proto-Germanic · inherited from*bōsmaz
3. Proto-West Germanic · inherited from*bōsm
4. Old English · inherited frombōsm
5. Middle English · inherited frombosom
6. English todaybosom

From Middle English bosom, bosum, from Old English bōsm, from Proto-West Germanic *bōsm, from Proto-Germanic *bōsmaz, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰewH- (“to swell, bend, curve”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian Bossem, Bousem (“bosom”), West Frisian boezem (“bosom”), Dutch boezem (“bosom”), German Busen (“bosom”). Related also to Albanian buzë (“lip”), Greek βυζί (vyzí, “breast”), Romanian buză (“lip”), Irish bus (“lip”), and Latin bucca (“cheek”).

First known use, by meaning

• from 11ᵗʰc. The breast or chest of a human (or sometimes of another animal).
• from 13ᵗʰc. The seat of one's inner thoughts, feelings, etc.; one's secret feelings; desire.
• from 15ᵗʰc. The protected interior or inner part of something; the area enclosed as by an embrace.