holsom

• holsum
• halsum, halsumm (Early Middle English)
• holsome, holsomme, hoolsom, hoolsome (Late Middle English)
• halesome, halesum, halsom (Northern)

Likely either inherited from Old English *hālsum or a calque of Old Norse heilsamr; in either case, ultimately from Proto-Germanic *hailasamaz and equivalent to hol (“whole, healthy”) +‎ -som (“-some”).

• IPA^(key): /ˈhɔːlsum/, /ˈhɔlsum/
• (Northern) IPA^(key): /ˈhaːlsum/, /ˈhalsum/

holsom (plural and weak singular holsome)

1. Healthful, salubrious; providing health.
2. Beneficial, advantageous; bestowing gain.
   • late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Tale of Melibee, The Canterbury Tales, section 15, line 2285:

     ‘And ther-as ye blamen alle wommen and hir resouns, I shal shewe yow by manye ensamples that many a womman hath ben ful good, and yet been; and hir conseils ful hoolsome and profitable.’

     ‘And whereas you blame all women and their reasons, I shall show you by many examples that many a woman has been very good, and yet are, and their advices very wholesome and beneficial.’

3. Pleasing, nice; giving enjoyment.

• English: wholesome (obsolete holesome)
• Middle Scots: halsum, hailsum
  • Scots: hailsome, halesome

• “hōlsǒm, adj.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.