Middle English Dictionary Entry
bọ̄̆sǒm n.
Entry Info
| Forms | bọ̄̆sǒm n. Also bosum, bosem, (dat.) bosme & bosn, bosoun. |
| Etymology | OE bōsm |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The enclosure formed by the breast and arms, the embrace; also, the lap; putten to ~, embrace (sb.); (b) fig. loving embrace, love, affection, close companionship, communion; (c) Abrahames ~, Abraham's bosom, the abode of the righteous dead; esp., the abode of good men who died before the time of Christ.
Associated quotations
a
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)53 : Þas faȝe neddre bitacneð þis faȝe folc..þe speket alse feire biforen heore euencristene alse heo heom walde in to heore bosme puten.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Lam.2.12 : Whan thei [children] shulde brethen out ther soulis in the bosum [L sinu] of ther modris.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mic.7.5 : Fro hir that restith in thi bosum [L sinu], keepe thou closyngis of thi mouth.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Luke 6.38 : Thei schulen ȝyue in to ȝoure bosum a good mesure..and ouerflowynge.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sum.(Manly-Rickert)D.1993 : Be war from hire that in thy bosom slepeth.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)16.254 : In his bosome he bar a thyng þat he blissed euere..a lazar lay þere-Inne.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Judg.16.19 : She made hym sleep vpon hir knees and in her bosum to leyn the heed.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Ruth 4.16 : And Noemy putte the takun child in hir bosum.
- a1500 Lamb.Mir.Virg.(Lamb 432)324/26 : A ffayre woman come and in her bosumme led him to þe land harmless.
b
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)19399 : Crist, Godess Sune ankennedd, þatt inn hiss Faderr bosemm iss.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))John 1.18 : The oon bigetun sone that is in the bosum of the fadir [L in sinu patris], he hath told out.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)128b/b : Þilke þat beþ I put out of chirche..on aschewednysday beþ I fonge in to þe lappe and bosom of holy chirche..on cene þorsday.
- (1420) EEWills47/13 : Prahyng hym..that he resseyue me yn-to þe brode bosum off his mercy.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)366/303 : Now com my swete soule..and reste in my bosom.
c
- c1300 SLeg.MPChr.(LdMisc 108)162 : Lazer sone he iseiȝ In Abrahames boseme sitte.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Luke 16.22 : The beggere deiede and was borun of aungels in to Abrahams bosum.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)14a/a : Þey..bringeþ dede mennes soules in to Abrahams bosum & in to þe cuntrey of blisse.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)6653-7 : Abrahams bosum ys a dwellyng Þat holy men haue yn restyng..Abrahams bosum ys a stede, men telle, Betwyxe paradys and helle.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)3060 : Abraham bosom es nathyng elles Bot heven, þar haly spyrites duelles.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.2 : Abrahames bosum is clepid a place of reste þat holy soulis restiden inne bifore Cristis ascensioun.
- a1450 LDirige(1) (Dgb 102)382 : At domesday comaunde my soule to dwelle In Abrahamys bosum, in thy blisse.
- c1450 *Bonav.Medit.(4) (MSU 1)84 : Þe whylke hell es called abraham bosum, in þe whylke wase none bot holy fadurs.
2.
(a) The front of the thorax, breast; (b) the seat of emotions and thought; heart, mind, innermost being; (c) the upper front portion of a coat, dress, etc.; the fold covering the breast.
Associated quotations
a
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)121/104 : A baren broche by a belle of tynne At youre bosom to be.
- a1475 Rev.St.Bridget(3) (Gar 145)72/29 : My hoke is putt to the herte of the kynge, and anon þer is yeve him an hammer in his bosn.
b
- a1225(OE) Lamb.Hom.VA (Lamb 487)105 : Ira requiescit in sinu stulti; þet is, wreððe hafð wununge on þes dusian bosme.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)40a : Riht hond is god werc, Bosum is priuite.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)40b : I mi bosum he seið is al min hope ihalden; as þah he seide, hwet god se ich do, were hit ut of bosum iuppet & idrahe forð, al min hope were edslopen.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Job 31.33 : I..hilede in my bosum my wickenesse.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)16.161 : And þou take pacience And bere hit in þy bosom.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.4042 : Late som comfor[t] in to ȝour bosom crepe.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)6.309 : Thi secre bosum is ful of stories Of sondry princis, how thei ther liff haue lad.
- a1450 LDirige(1) (Dgb 102)306 : Þe hope in my bosom yput vp isse.
c
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)14984 : In hire bosme [Otho: bosome] heo bar, bi-neoðen hire titten, ane guldene ampulle.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)40a : Hwi drahest tu ut þin hond..of midde þi bosum [Nero: boseme; Pep: bosome]?
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)2809 : In hise bosum he dede his hond.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)163 : Non ne may þet uer ine his bosme hede, þet his robe ne berne.
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)128.6 : He þat shal repen ne fild nouȝt his honde, ne he his bosme [L sinum] þat shal gader þe honde-fouls.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Prov.6.27 : Whether mai a man hide fir in his bosum, that his clothis brenne not?
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.1944 : This purs hath she inwith hir bosom hyd.
- a1400(c1300) NHom.(1) Gosp.(Phys-E)p.124 : His moder dremid, that scho sawe..Al þe mikel water of temis Rin in þe bosem of hir kemes.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)5822 : Þou put þi hand in bosum þin.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.1155 : And in hire bosom the lettre down he thraste.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)23/12 : As þis creatur was komyng fro ȝorke-ward beryng a botel wyth bere in hir hand, & hir husbond a cake in hys bosom.
- c1450(?a1400) Parl.3 Ages (Add 31042)139 : And iche bagge in his bosome bettir than othere.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)174/6 : Þe box schoget out of his bosome.
3.
(a) A hollow, concavity; (b) the hull of a ship; (c) the belly of a sail; (d) an arm of the sea, a bay.
Associated quotations
a
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)60b/b : Sinosus: ful of bosemes.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)18b/a : And þof al it [þe matrix] haue noȝt bot 2 bosomez [L sinus] or concauiteez opne shewed.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)96a : Þei scholde ben assailed and Iclosed yn as in a bosoun [L in sinu].
b
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)7849 : Scipen gunnen helden, bosmes þer rendden, water in wende.
c
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)107 : Þe blyþe breþe at her bak þe bosum he fyndes; He swenges me þys swete schip swefte fro þe hauen.
d
- a1475(a1447) Bokenham MAngl.(Hrl 4011)12/8 : ii famous braunches of þe see..wherof Est bosom or braunche [L orientalis sinus] begynnethe abowtt ii myle from þe monastery.
4.
(a) The interior of a thing, the center; an inner recess; (b) womb; (c) a deep ulcer or abscess with a long canal and narrow opening; a fistula.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)131b/a : Bryȝt bemes of strong fire..turneþ aȝein þe priuey bosume of here owne substaunce [L pursum ad secretum sue substantie sinum reducti] and beþ I hyd from oure siȝt.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)21a/b : And difference of qualite & quantitee seweþ sich difference y taken of materie, namely of coniuncte, sithen þai [apostemez] be of þe lappe or bosome [L gremio] of þe materie as in þat facultee.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)45 : Bosome, or bosum: Sinus, gremium.
b
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)133 : Adam..ne was boren of wifes bosme.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)21974 : Seoððen ich wes mon iboren of mire moder bosme.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)24/28 : Blostme..iboren of meidenes bosum [Roy: bodi]..iblescet ibeo þu.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Juliana (Bod 34)15/151 : Þet tu weren wummon of wummone bosum to wraðerheale eauer iboren.
- c1400 Fadur & sone (Bod 416)44 : Þou sendest þi sone, In swete marie bosome to wone.
- ?c1475(?a1400) LChart.Chr.B (Cmb Ii.3.26)378 : The cote is ryche and fyne..A well fayre mayde me hit reyȝt And oute of hir bosom y hit broȝt.
c
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)84b/b : And þer is made..a bosom or a lap, A cauerne or caue, to which..ar drawen superfluiteez of nyȝ membrez..and þus is made an vlcere vnheleable.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)85b/b : And a fistule forsoþ is a streite & a longe sinus i. lap or bosom like to oþer lappez, suffryng contraccioun & hardnez of þe inward partie.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)96a/a : When forsoþ sanie is leten stonde..in þo placez..it corrodeþ hem & alterateþ & makeþ a bosom or lap & fistule.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. bosom.