To mean business 'be intent on serious action' is from 1856.

Phrase business as usual attested from 1865. Business end 'the practical or effective part' (of something) is American English, by 1874. business also could mean 'sexual intercourse.'īusiness card is attested from 1840 business letter from 1766. The sense of 'trade, commercial engagements, mercantile pursuits collectively' is attested by 1727, on the notion of 'matters which occupy one's time and attention.' In 17c. The meaning 'what one is about at the moment' is from 1590s. The sense of 'that which is undertaken as a duty' is from late 14c. (in late Old English bisig appears as a noun with the sense 'occupation, state of employment'). The sense of 'a person's work, occupation, that which one does for a livelihood' is recorded late 14c. Johnson's dictionary also has busiless 'At leisure without business unemployed.' The modern two-syllable pronunciation is from 17c. The original sense is obsolete, as is the Middle English sense of 'state of being much occupied or engaged' (mid-14c.), the latter replaced by busyness. Old English bisignes (Northumbrian) 'care, anxiety, occupation,' from bisig 'careful, anxious, busy, occupied, diligent' (see busy (adj.)) + -ness.

Pidgin words