bosom
pronunciation
How to pronounce bosom in British English:
UK [ˈbʊzəm]
How to pronounce bosom in American English:
US [ˈbʊzəm]
-
- Noun:
- the chest considered as the place where secret thoughts are kept
- a person's breast or chest
- cloth that covers the chest or breasts
- a close affectionate and protective acceptance
- the locus of feelings and intuitions
- either of two soft fleshy milk-secreting glandular organs on the chest of a woman
-
- Verb:
- hide in one's bosom
- hug, usually with fondness
Word Origin
- bosom
- bosom: [OE] The immediate source of Old English bōsm was West Germanic *bösm-, which also produced German busen and Dutch boezem. It has been conjectured that it may come ultimately from Indo-European *bhāghús, which perhaps meant ‘arm’ (source of English bought and possibly bow, as in ‘ship’s bow’); the early occurrence of phrases like ‘in someone’s bosom’ meaning ‘clasped to someone’s chest, in someone’s arms’ may support this.=> bough, bow
- bosom (n.)
- Old English bosm "breast; womb; surface; ship's hold," from West Germanic *bosm- (cognates: Old Frisian bosm, Old Saxon bosom, Middle Dutch boesem, Dutch boezem, Old High German buosam, German Busen "bosom, breast"), perhaps from PIE root *bhou- "to grow, swell," or *bhaghus "arm" (in which case the primary notion would be "enclosure formed by the breast and the arms"). Narrowed meaning "a woman's breasts" is from 1959; but bosomy "big-breasted" is from 1928. Bosom-friend is attested 1580s; bosom buddy from 1920s.
Example
- 1. So instead he nursed at the bosom of the welfare state .
- 2. The stranger clasped the hand extended to her : " then I am yours , " murmured she , and sank upon his bosom .
- 3. Despite google 's reputation for fostering new companies , many services that nestle into mountain view 's welcoming bosom are never heard from again .
- 4. She twisted herself round and pressed her bosom against him .
- 5. That , and a man 's potential to father an indefinite number of offspring if he can find willing volunteers , might encourage him to stray from the bosom of his family .