In what language does 'busty' mean big or tall?

[BinturongsSmellOfPopcorn]

Slightly odd question, and rather a long shot.

My grandfather had the army-aquired nickname of Busty, apparently referring to his size. Family legend records this as a Hindi nickname, but I can't find a Hindi word that matches, and he's long dead so unable to provide clues.

He was stationed in rather a lot of places but possible sources are Arabic, Nepalese, Marathi.

Anyone care to take a guess where it might have come from?

That's really interesting. I've just found this:

Those of wider girth were awarded various names: 'Fatty', 'Jumbo', 'Tubby' and 'Piggy', but 'Busty' is probably the most common in the Army.

From here:

www.greatwarforum.org/topic/5853-nick-names/

Ah - so potentially a 'job' language rather than a national one.

How fascinating - would it be a sort of "Buster" thing?
The sort of nickname that was prevalent in old war films/books etc?

I took from it that he would have been on the larger side. A nickname for a 'wider girth'

I have photos, but no idea at what point in his army career he picked up the nickname.

There's some definite straining of the buttons in his joining up photo.

Not so much mid career.

Filled out a bit again by his second round of service, when he met my grandmother and we know he definitely had the nickname by then. But not stout enough to earn a nickname for it, I would have thought.