Boche

American  

[bosh, bawsh] / bɒʃ, bɔʃ /

Or boche

noun

plural

Boche, Boches

1. Older Slang: Disparaging and Offensive. a contemptuous term used to refer to a German, especially a German soldier in World War I or II.

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Boche British  

/ bɒʃ /

noun

1. a German, esp a German soldier

2. (usually functioning as plural) Germans collectively, esp German soldiers regarded as the enemy

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Sensitive Note

This term was originally French slang, perhaps from the Franco-Prussian War. In English, it appears today only in historical contexts.

Etymology

Origin of Boche

First recorded in 1885–90; from French; of uncertain origin; possibly a shortening of Alboche, Alleboche “German,” equivalent to al(emand) “German” + (ca)boche “cabbage, blockhead, head of a nail”

Example Sentences

“This is Hollywood. This is Los Angeles. Let them film. This is what they do here,” said Abraham Boche, a local resident.

From Washington Times • Aug. 26, 2022

From a base hospital, one suffering doughboy was O.K. with his mother learning that “a Boche shell has played the devil with my beauty.”

From New York Times • May 12, 2018

The youngest girl staying at the safe house is 10-year-old Boche.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2015

The band also hired booking agent David "Boche" Viecelli, whose Chicago-based company, Billions, had earned a reputation for shrewd bookings and personal artist relationships with bands like Pavement.

From Reuters • Jul. 6, 2010

“We’re still not sure whether Boche is a boy or a girl, are we?”

From "The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank