breast English · revision 5680

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 725}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /brest/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|brest]], [[inh|ang|brēost]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from [[gem-pro|*breustą]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(Etymonline) which also gave Old Saxon briost, Old Norse brjóst and Dutch borst, beside a form *brusts behind German Brust and Gothic brusts.^(Hoad 1986)^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) Outside Germanic it is related to Old Irish brú “belly, bosom” and Russian brjukho “belly”,^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) perhaps literally “swelling”, from PIE [[ine-pro|*bhreus-|t=to swell, sprout]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) The Old English ēo was shortened before two consonants in late Middle English, but the spelling with ea kept the old long vowel.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The chest or a woman's breast: about 725 in Barnhart, in a version of Genesis; about 1000 in the OED.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Old English already used the breast for the seat of the emotions and of secrets,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) as in ''to make a clean breast of'', to confess.^(Roach et al. 2011) The corresponding part of animals is from before 1400, and a joint of meat such as chicken breast from 1530.^(OED 1989) The breast as a figurative source of nourishment is from 1611.^(OED 1989) ''Breastplate'' is from the late 14th century, and ''breast-pump'' from 1821.^(Etymonline) The verb, to push the breast against waves or wind, is from 1599, and to meet boldly from 1850;^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) runners breast the tape at the finish.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 725 – the chest.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * a1000 – the seat of the emotions.^(OED 1989)

+ * a1400 – of animals.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1530 – a cut of meat.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1599 – the verb.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1821 – ''breast-pump''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Either of the two organs on a woman's [[chest]] that produce milk; the similar organ in other [[mammal|alt=mammals]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The front of the body between the neck and the [[abdomen]]; the chest.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Meat from the front of a bird or animal: ''chicken breast''.^(OED 1989)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(literary)'' The heart, as the seat of the feelings.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To face or push against something with the chest; to meet boldly.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To reach the top of a hill.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[breasted]]

+ * [[breastless]]

+ * [[abreast]]

+ * [[breastbone]]

+ * [[breastplate]]

+ * [[breaststroke]]

+ * [[breastwork]]

+ * [[redbreast]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[breastfeed]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}