buxom

Meaning

Adjective

• Pliant, obedient, tractable (to) (i.e. easily moved or bent, morally).
• Submissive, humble, meek (as subsense of 4).
• Gracious, indulgent, favourable; obliging, amiable, courteous, affable, kindly (as subsense of 1).
• With infinitive: Easily moved, prone, ready (as subsense of 1).
• Flexible, pliant (arising from sense 1).
• Blithe, gladsome, bright, lively, gay (attested after 1).
• Cheerful, happy (possibly as subsense of 6).
• Full of health, vigour, and good temper; well-favoured, plump and comely, 'jolly', comfortable-looking (in person). (arising from sense 6).
• Having a full, voluptuous figure, especially possessing large breasts (as subsense of 8).

Origin

• From Middle English buxum, buhsum, bucsum, (also Middle English ibucsum, ibuhsum, possibly from OE past participal form), from Old English bōcsum, *būhsum (Old English *ǵebūhsum), a derivative of Old English būgan, equivalent to bow + -some (būgan + -sum). Cognate with Scots bowsome, Dutch buigzaam (Middle Dutch boochsaem), German biegsam, derived from Dutch buigen and German biegen, and their older forms, respectively.