Forms: 1 bósm, bósum, 2–3 bosm, bosem, Orm. bosemm, 3–6 bosum (in 6 only Sc.), 4–7 bosome, (6 bosym, bowsum, boosome), 4– bosom. [OE. bósm = OFris. bósm, OS. bósom (MDu. boesem, Du. boezem), OHG. buosam (MHG. buosem, mod.G. busen):—WGer. *bôsm- (not in EGer.). Remoter etymology unknown: it has been conjectured that *bôsmo- stands for *bôh-smo, f. *bôhu-:—OAryan *bhâghu-s arm (BOUGH); the word would then, like the partially synonymous FATHOM, primarily mean the space embraced by the two arms.]
1. The breast of a human being; also poet. of a bird, etc.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Numb. xi. 12. Ðæt ic hiʓ bære on minum bosume, swa fostormodor deþ cyld.
1382. Wyclif, John xiii. 23. Oon of his disciplis was restinge in the bosum of Jhesu.
c. 1440. York Myst., xv. 104. A baren broche by a belle of tynne At youre bosom to be.
1592. Shaks., Ven. & Ad., 646. Within my bosom … My boding heart pants.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 19. Progne, with her Bosom stained in Blood.
1847. Tennyson, Princess, II. 88. Doves That sun their milky bosoms on the thatch. Ibid. (1864), Aylmer’s F., 687. The babe Too ragged to be fondled on her lap, Warm’d at her bosom?
b. The enclosure formed by the breast and the arms. In one’s bosom: clasped to one’s breast. Now only arch., and chiefly in fig. Scriptural phrases, e.g., in Abraham’s bosom (cf. Luke xvi. 22): in the abode of the blessed dead.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 53. Alse heo heom [heore euencristene] walde in to heore bosme puten.
c. 1200. Ormin, 19391. Iesu Crist … Þatt inn hiss Faderr bosemm iss.
1382. Wyclif, Mic. vii. 5. Hir that restith in thi bosum.
1420. E. E. Wills (1882), 47. That he resseyue me yn-to þe brode bosum off his mercy.
1578. Gude & Godlie Ballates (1868), 36. Quhen Lazarus he saw … In his bosome.
1816. W. Hollar, Holbein’s Dance of Death, xix. 53. Death, armed with a buckler and a huge dart, attacks this warrior, in the bosom of victory.
1866. Neale, Seq. & Hymns, 162. The child was in Abraham’s bosom.
c. Wife of one’s bosom: orig. a Hebraism adopted in the Bible of 1611; but its Eng. use is influenced by senses 6 a and b. (The similar phrase husband of one’s bosom, Deut. xxviii. 56, never became current.) Hence, To take to one’s bosom: to marry.
1611. Bible, Deut. xiii. 6. The wife of thy bosome. Ibid., xxviii. 56. The husband of her bosome.
1747. Hervey, Medit. (1753), II. 53. The Wife of his Bosom may expire by his Side.
1814. T. Jefferson, Corr. (1830), 233. Not even the wife of his bosom.
1881. Ld. W. Pitt Lennox, Plays, Players, &c. I. 37. The woman he had taken to his bosom was in the family way at the period he had married her.
† d. transf. The womb. Obs.
971. Blickl. Hom., 5 Heo onfeng on hire medmycclan bosm God Fæder Sunu.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 131. Of alle þe bernes, þe ben boren of wifes bosem.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot., II. 411. Sonnis als of thair bosumis tha bair.
2. fig. Applied to the surface of the sea, a lake, a river, or the ground: with various associations from the literal sense.
a. 1000. Andreas, 444 (Gr.). Of brimes bosme.
1595. Shaks., John, IV. i. 3. When I strike my foot Vpon the bosome of the ground.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., III. 557. [A river] which before Tall Ships of Burthen on its Bosom bore.
1750. G. Hughes, Barbados, 220. From the bosoms of some of the upper leaves rise small pedicles.
1816. G. S. Faber, Orig. Pagan Idol., III. 11. A small island was consecrated in the bosom of a deep lake.
1837. Wordsworth, Tour Italy, Sonn. xxvi. Tossed on the bosom of a stormy sea.
1873. Black, Pr. Thule, x. 160. The broad bosom of the stream.
3. transf. The part of the dress that covers the breast; also the space included between the breast and its covering.
b. spec. Considered as the receptacle for money or letters, formerly answering to modern use of ‘pocket.’ c. To give (requite, etc.) into one’s bosom (a Hebraism derived from the Bible).
a. 1121. O. E. Chron., an. 1086 (Laud. MS.). Mid his bosum full goldes.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 2811. In hise bosum he dede his hond.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Chan. Yem. Prol. & T., 565. This Chanon took out a Crosselet Of his bosom.
1388. Wyclif, Luke vi. 38. Thei schulen ȝyue in to ȝoure bosum a good mesure.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 1 b. A synguler iewell to bere in my bosom.
1580. Baret, Alv., B 958. To put money in ones bosom.
1684. Bunyan, Pilgr., II. 10. That thou put this Letter in thy Bosome.
1834. Marryat, P. Simple, xii. A large frill to his bosom.
4. A curved recess; a cavity, hollow interior; a sinus. [Cf. Lat. sinus.]
† a. The hull or the hold of a ship. Obs.
a. 1000. Cædmon’s Gen., 1306 (Gr.). Gescype scylfan on scipes bosme.
c. 1205. Lay., 7849. Scipen gunnen helden . Bosmes þer rendden; Water in wende.
† b. Phys. The cavity of the stomach; one of the chambers of the heart; a recess or angle in which two bones meet. Obs.
1578. Banister, Hist. Man, I. 29. The vj bone is fastened to the angular bosome of the Postbrachiall bones.
1610. Barrough, Meth. Physick, III. i. 101. The bosome of the stomack.
1662. J. Chandler, Van Helmont’s Oriat., 178. There is Hedge or Partition between both bosomes of the Heart.
† c. A concave bend in a coast-line, or the part of the sea embraced by it; a bay. Obs.
c. 1325. E. E. Allit. P., C. 107. Þe blyþe breþe at her bak þe bosum he fyndes.
1533. Bellenden, Livy, I. (1822), 449. The bosum of the seyis, quhare the Venicianis dwellis.
1600. Fairfax, Tasso, XIX. viii. Where into creeks and bosoms blind A winding hill his corners turn’d and cast.
1685. R. Burton, Eng. Emp. Amer., iv. 70. They were … cast upon a bosom of the South Cape of Massachusets Bay.
d. poet. The ‘belly’ or curvature of a sail before the wind. (Cf. BOSOM v. 1.)
1872. Blackie, Lays Highl., 7. A strong south-wester blowing Strained the bosom of their sail.
e. Mech. The recess or depression round the eye of a millstone; the ‘breast’ or curvature of a plough-share; also in Shipbuilding, the concave curvature of a frame.
1813. A. Young, Agric. Essex, I. 134. This degree of roundness and fulness in the bosom [of a plough] is necessary on heavy ground.
1869. Sir E. Reed, Shipbuild., viii. 149. The beam-plate is run into the bosom of the frame and riveted to it.
5. Expressing a local relation: The interior, the midst: sometimes a development of sense 4, but often with a reference to one of the senses ‘embrace’ (1 b), ‘bosom of garment’ (3 b), and ‘womb’ (1 d).
1489. Caxton, Faytes of A., I. xxv. 79. Enuyrone thyn aduersaryes … wythin the bosom of thyn ooste.
1595. Spenser, Col. Clout, 243. Fishes … Which in the bosome of the billowes breed.
1663. Boyle, Usefulness Nat. Philos., I. iv. 66. Quicksilver … will swallow up Gold, and hide it in its Bosom.
1849. Robertson, Serm., Ser. I. ii. (1866), 37. The seed lying in the genial bosom of the earth.
1861. Geo. Eliot, Silas M., 1. Deep in the bosom of the hills.
b. fig. In the bosom of one’s family: in the privacy of the domestic circle (usually also implying family affection and confidence). In the bosom of a church (or other association): within the inner circle of its membership. And the like.
1594. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., III. (1604), 148 (J.). They which liue within the bosome of that Church.
1803. Jane Porter, Thaddeus, i. (1831), 2. Within the bosom of his family.
1833. I. Taylor, Fanat., i. 13. In the bosom of the Church rests the hope of the conversion of the world.
1839. Thirlwall, Hist. Greece, VII. 173. The traitors whom Athens had … cast out from her bosom.
1873. Morley, Rousseau, I. 37. He was publicly received into the kindly bosom of the true church.
6. fig. The breast considered as the seat of thoughts and feelings. Cf. HEART.
a. The repository of secret thoughts and counsels: hence used for ‘inward thoughts’ (quot. 1604). † To be of (a person’s) bosom: to be entrusted with his secrets. Friend of one’s bosom: cf. BOSOM FRIEND.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 148. I mine boseme … is al mi hope iholden.
1382. Wyclif, Job xxxi. 33. If I … hilede in my bosum my wickenesse.
1590. Shaks., Mids. N., I. i. 216. Emptying our bosomes, of their counsell sweld. Ibid. (1604), Oth., III. i. 58. You shall haue time To speake your bosome freely. Ibid. (1605), Lear, IV. v. 26. I know you are of her bosome.
a. 1643. W. Cartwright, Lady Errant, III. i. (1651), 29. We enterchange Bosoms, and counsels, thoughts and souls.
1712. Steele, Spect., No. 428, ¶ 2. The man … is shunn’d to-day by the Friend of his Bosom.
1813. T. Jefferson, Corr. (1830), 194. A confidential communication … deposited in his bosom, and never meant to trouble the public mind.
b. The seat of emotions, desires, etc.: hence used for ‘desire’ (quot. 1603).
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 105. Wreððe hafð wununge on þes dusian bosme.
1595. Shaks., John, IV. i. 32. His words do take possession of my bosome. Ibid. (1603), Meas. for M., IV. iii. 139. You shal haue your bosome on this wretch.
1625. Bacon, Ess., Ep. Ded. (Arb.), 498. They come home to Mens Businesse and Bosomes.
1764. Goldsm., Trav., 364. Far from my bosom drive the low desire.
1818. Gentl. Mag., LXXXVIII. II. 153. The cause comes home to the bosom of every man under the British Government.
1842. Tennyson, Amphion, 102. I will not vex my bosom.
† 7. Transferred to a person. (Cf. the similar use of hand, heart, head, etc., for their possessor.)
1599. Shaks., Hen. V., II. Cho. 21. A nest of hollow bosomes.
1608. Middleton, Mad World, II. i. I’ll pawn my credit for him, an honest, trusty bosom.
1651. Jer. Taylor, Holy Living (1727), 249. He is the proper object and bosom to whom the restitution is to be made.
1756. C. Lucas, Ess. Waters, II. 198. Inscribed to a Bosom fraught with every Social Virtue.
II. Comb. and Attrib.
8. General relations, chiefly attributive: a. Worn upon or carried in the bosom: as in bosom-book, -brooch, -pin, -vesture.
1617. Janua Ling., Advt. ad fin. If not as a manuall or pocket-booke, yet a pectorall or *bosome-booke, to be carried twixt jerkin and doublet.
1835. Hawthorne, Amer. Note-bks. (1871), I. 7. The bar-keeper had one of Benton’s mint-drops for a *bosom-brooch!
1831. Carlyle, Sart. Res., II. v. The *bosom-vesture of Summer.
b. Pertaining to the bosom as the seat of thoughts and feelings: as in bosom-balm, -broil, -comfort, -devil, -hell, -peace, -prophecy, -throe, etc.
1742. Young, Nt. Th., II. 171. Our thoughts at enmity; our *bosom-broil.
a. 1656. Bp. Hall, Soliloquies, 61. Guiltiness … like a *bosom-devil would ever torment itself.
1674. Flatman, Agst. Thoughts, 7/4. These anguishes, this *bosome-Hell.
1659. Flatman, Dooms-day Th., 66. When … Conscience … all our *bosom-secrets breaks.
1858. Hood, Hero & L., xvii. The agony and *bosom-throe.
c. Cherished in the bosom: hence usually = dear, beloved, ‘darling’: as in bosom-child, -sin, -son, -vanity, -vice, wickedness.
1862. Goulburn, Pers. Relig., 179. The *bosom-adder of vanity.
1838. Wordsw., To Sleep. Dear *Bosom-child we call thee.
1620. Sanderson, Serm., I. 142. Far off from medling with his *bosom sin.
1740. Wesley, Wks. (1872), XIV. 327. Their bosom sins, or the sins which did most easily beset them.
1678. Yng. Man’s Call., 143. Turn away your eyes from *bosome vanities.
1705. Stanhope, Paraphr., III. 61. If … Some One darling *Bosom-vice be left unmortified.
d. Intimate, confidential: as in bosom-communion, -counsel, -friendship, -interest, -lover.
1650. T. Goodwin, Wks. (1865), X. 557. How canst thou think God should … take thee into immediate *bosom-communion with himself?
1619. King, Serm., 19. Did he then thinke … of a *bosome enemie?
1860. C. Patmore, Faithf. for Ever, 89. Take no wife Who to your stooping feels she owes Her name; such debts make *bosom-foes.
1742. Young, Nt. Th., I. 340. Like *bosom friendships to resentment sour’d.
1596. Shaks., Merch. V., III. iv. 17. Anthonio … the *bosome louer of my Lord.
e. locative with pple. or ppl. adj., as in bosom-reigning, -stricken (other examples in 9).
1645. Quarles, Sol. Recant., Eccles. iv. 5. With yauning lips, and *bosome-folded hands.
1637. Preston, Mt. Ebal (1638), 32. We must confesse our beloved *bosome-raigning sinnes.
1855. Singleton, Virgil, II. 474. The *bosom-stricken dames their woman’s shout Raise to the stars of heaven.
9. Special comb.: † bosom-bird, fig. a bosom friend; bosom-deep a. (adv.), up to the bosom (cf. ankle-deep); bosom-felt ppl. a., = HEARTFELT; † bosom-hung ppl. a., hanging down upon the bosom; † bosom-mischief, ? the root of the mischief; † bosom-partner, a wife; † bosom-piece, ? a piece of attire covering the bosom; fig. a bosom friend; † bosom-sermon, one learnt by heart and recited; † bosom-slave, a concubine; bosom-staff, an instrument used in testing the straightness of the faces of millstones (see 4 e).
1655. Trapp, Marrow Gd. Auth. (1868), 836/2. One of his *bosom-birds, Porphyry.
1882. Rossetti, Rose Mary, III. vi. She had waded *bosom-deep Along death’s bank in the sedge of sleep.
1771. Smollett, in Anderson, Brit. Poets (1795), X. 959/2. His *bosom-felt wo.
a. 1662. Heylin, Laud, I. 161. Eunomius, the *bosom-mischief of those times.
1633. Ford, Love’s Sacr., I. i. (1839), 76. The *bosom-partner of my lord.
1619. Beaum. & Fl., Valentin., II. iii. Was I your *bosom-piece for this?
1594. Carew, Huarte’s Exam. Wits (1616), 149. Which these cannot bring about, who haue conned *bosome-sermons.
1728. Thomson, Spring, 1131. Let eastern tyrants, from the light of heaven Seclude their *bosom-slaves.
B. as adj. Private, confidential, intimate.
1640. Habington, Hist. Edw. IV., 224. Lewys freeing himselfe from so bosome an enemie by poysoning Charles.
1648. Symmons, Vind. Chas. I., 192. He tels her in his most bosome expressions, that [etc.].
