buxom

American  

[buhk-suhm] / ˈbʌk səm /

adjective

1. (of a woman) full-bosomed.

2. (of a woman) healthy, plump, cheerful, and lively.

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buxom British  

/ ˈbʌksəm /

adjective

1. (esp of a woman) healthily plump, attractive, and vigorous

2. (of a woman) full-bosomed

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Other Word Forms

• buxomly
  adverb
• buxomness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of buxom

1125–75; Middle English, earlier buhsum pliant, equivalent to Old English būh (variant stem of būgan to bow ¹ ) + -sum -some ¹

Explanation

Buxom is a word that's typically used to describe someone who's full-figured or voluptuous. Although anyone plump and healthy can be buxom, buxom implies having a full chest area. A man can be described as buxom if he has a big barrel chest, but buxom usually describes women. The word buxom used to mean “obedient,” then it meant “cheerful,” and now it’s used just as a physical description.

Example Sentences

Don Quixot, Part the Third, with the Marriage of Mary the Buxom, 1669; this met with no success.

From The Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and Ireland (1753) Volume III by Cibber, Theophilus

Before the Reign of Buxom Dido, When Beasts could speak as well as I do; Lyons and we convers'd together, And marry'd among one another.

From Aesop Dress'd Or a collection of Fables by La Fontaine, Jean de

The poem is like the nymph whom he addresses, Buxom, blithe, and debonaire.

From English Literature, Considered as an Interpreter of English History Designed as a Manual of Instruction by Coppee, Henry

A soldier and a sailor, A tinker and a tailor, Had once a doubtful strife, sir, To make a maid a wife, sir, Whose name was Buxom Joan.

From The Book of Humorous Verse by Wells, Carolyn