German

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Etymology

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From Middle High German buosem, from Old High German buosum, from Proto-Germanic *bōsmaz. Cognate with Dutch boezem, English bosom.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈbuːzən/
  • Audio:(file)

Noun

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Busen m (strong, genitive Busens, plural Busen)

  1. (anatomy) a woman’s breasts collectively
    Synonyms: Brust, Brüste
  2. (dated, poetic) bosom, a person’s chest, breast; (especially) the bulge of the garment around it
    Synonym: Brust
    eine Schlange im Busen tragen / nährento carry / nurture a snake in one’s bosom
  3. (poetic, figurative) bosom (seat of thoughts and feelings)
    Synonyms: Brust, Herz, Innerstes
    • 1808, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, “Zueignung”, in Faust: Der Tragödie erster Teil[1]; republished as Bayard Taylor, transl., 1870:
      Mein Busen fühlt sich jugendlich erschüttert / Vom Zauberhauch der euren Zug umwittert
      My bosom thrills, with youthful passion shaken, / From magic airs that round your march awaken
  4. (geography, chiefly in Meerbusen) bay, bight, gulf (area of sea)
    Synonyms: (main form) Bucht, (rarer) Golf, Bai

Declension

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Derived terms

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Further reading

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  • Busen” in Duden online
  • Busen” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache