Bust
/bʌst/noun
A sculpture of a person's head, shoulders, and upper chest.
Did you know?In the 16th century, 'bust' was a term for breaking something, which relates to the idea of destruction in art and life!
Etymological Timeline
Old French
French
boster
“to break or smash”
Middle English
English
busten
“to break, burst, or explode”
14th Century
Latin
bustum
“a place for burial (related to 'bust' as in breaking or shattering life)”
16th Century
English
bust
“a sculpture of a head and shoulders, reflecting the breaking of traditional forms in art.”
Modern English
English
bust
“the contemporary term for a female's chest, echoing the deeper themes of creation and destruction.”