burst English · revision 7259

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 725|origins=gem-pro *brestaną}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /bɜːst/ ''(UK)''; /bɝst/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English bersten, bresten, [[inh|ang|berstan|t=to break suddenly, shatter]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) a West Germanic metathesis of Proto-Germanic *brestaną, source also of Old Saxon and Old High German brestan, Dutch [[m|nl|barsten]] and German [[m|de|bersten]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) with Old Norse [[m|non|bresta]].^(Hoad 1986) Hoad compares Old Irish brissim, I break.^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To break suddenly under pressure: about 725, in Beowulf, in Barnhart; before 1000 in the OED.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Old English it was said chiefly of things breaking with a loud noise, as cords snapping or spears shivering.^(Etymonline) The forms returned to brest- in Middle English under Old Norse influence, but were metathesized again in the late 16th century; brast was a common past tense through the 17th century and survives in dialect.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) Of boils, to break and discharge, is from about 1000.^(OED 1989) The noun, a sudden issuing forth, is from the 1610s,^(Etymonline) and a spurt of activity from 1862.^(Etymonline) Earlier Middle English berst meant damage or injury.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 725 – to break suddenly.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1000 – of a boil.^(OED 1989)

+ * late 16th century – the modern form burst.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1610s – the noun.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1862 – a spurt of activity.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To break suddenly and violently apart, as from pressure inside.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To be very full, as if about to break: ''bursting with pride''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To move or appear suddenly and forcefully: ''burst into the room''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To begin suddenly to do something: ''burst into tears''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # An instance of breaking or splitting.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A sudden brief outbreak: ''a burst of applause''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[burster]]

+ * [[unburst]]

+ * [[airburst]]

+ * [[cloudburst]]

+ * [[downburst]]

+ * [[upburst]]

+ * [[groundburst]]

+ * [[microburst]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[bust]]

+ * [[outburst]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}