Boasting
/ˈboʊstɪŋ/noun
The act of speaking with excessive pride about oneself or one’s achievements.
Did you know?The core of *boast* comes from a Germanic word for puffing up or swelling, which is why the word still feels like something expanding too large to contain.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*baust-
“to swell, puff up, or make a noise”
Old English
OE
bēostian
“to brag, boast, or speak proudly”
Middle English
ME
boosten
“to brag loudly or speak with pride”
Early Modern English
English
boast
“to speak with excessive pride about oneself or one’s deeds”
Modern English
English
boasting
“the act of bragging or speaking proudly about oneself”