Etymology

Formed within English on big (adj.). The adj. is of uncertain etymology, but suggestions for input from ON have been put forward; for full discussion, see big (adj.). 

PGmc Ancestor

(1)*big-; (2)*bug- or *bugg-

Proposed ON Etymon (OIcel representative)

byggva (byggja) 'to settle, inhabit'
(ONP byggja (2), byggva (vb.))

Other Scandinavian Reflexes

OE Cognate

(1) bȳan (v.) 'to inhabit, live, dwell'

Phonological and morphological markers

Summary category

D1

Attestation

This n. is rare in ME with no evident dial bias in OED3's earliest citations. The fig. sense in WA is unusual, with only a handful of citations in OED3 beginning in the 17c. See also big (adj.).

Occurrences in the Gersum Corpus

WA 105, 1018

Bibliography

OED3 bigness (n.) , HTOED ; see further big (adj.).