Word Origin & History
browse1523, "feed on buds," from M.Fr. brouster, from O.Fr. broster "to sprout, bud," from brost "young shoot, twig," probably from P.Gmc. *brustjan "to bud." Lost its final -t in Eng. on the mistaken notion that it was a pp. inflection. Figurative extension to "peruse" (books) is 1870s, Amer.Eng.