E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Business, Busy.
Saxon, bysgian, the verb, bysig (busy); Dutch, bezigen; German, besorgniss (care, management); sorge (care); Saxon, seogan (to see). From the German sorgen we get the French soigner (to look after something), soigne, and be-sogne (business, or that which is our care and concern), with be-soin (something looked after but not found, hence “want”); the Italian besognio (a beggar).
