mid-12c., from O.Dan. bož "temporary dwelling," from E.Norse *boa "to dwell," from P.Gmc. *bowan-, from PIE base *bheue- "to be, exist, grow" (see be). See also bound (adj.2). Cf. Ger. Bude "booth, stall," M.Du. boode, Lith. butas "house," O.Ir both "hut," Boh. bouda, Pol. buda, some probably borrowed from E.Norse, some formed from the PIE root.