From Old English 'byldan,' from 'bold' (dwelling) — began as making a house, broadened to all construction.
To construct something by putting parts or materials together; to establish or develop over time.
From Old English 'byldan' meaning 'to build, construct a house,' derived from 'bold' or 'botl' (dwelling, house), from Proto-Germanic *buþlą (dwelling), from PIE root *bʰuH- (to be, to grow, to dwell). The word's origin is remarkably specific: it didn't mean 'construct' in general but 'make a dwelling.' The connection to PIE *bʰuH- links 'build' to 'be,' 'booth,' 'bower,' and even 'husband' (house-dweller) — all words about the fundamental human act of making a place to exist. Key
The word 'build' is etymologically related to 'be' — both ultimately descend from PIE *bʰuH- (to exist, grow, dwell). At its deepest root, to build something is to bring it into being. The word 'husband' is also connected: Old Norse 'húsbóndi' means 'house-dweller,' using the same root for dwelling.