OTHER WORDS FOR boss
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Question 1 of 7
Which sentence is correct?
Origin of boss
1An Americanism dating from 1640–50; from Dutch baas “master, foreman”
Other definitions for boss (2 of 4)
boss2
[ baws, bos ]
/ bɔs, bɒs /
noun
verb (used with object)
Origin of boss
2First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English boce, from Anglo-French: “lump, growth, boil”; Old French, from unattested Vulgar Latin bottia, of uncertain origin
Other definitions for boss (3 of 4)
boss3
[ bos, baws ]
/ bɒs, bɔs /
noun
a familiar name for a calf or cow.
Origin of boss
3An Americanism first recorded in 1790–1800; compare dialectal (southwest England) borse, boss, buss “six-month-old calf”
Other definitions for boss (4 of 4)
Origin of boss
4First recorded in 1505–15; of obscure origin
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use boss in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for boss (1 of 4)
boss1
/ (bɒs) informal /
noun
a person in charge of or employing others
mainly US a professional politician who controls a party machine or political organization, often using devious or illegal methods
verb
to employ, supervise, or be in charge of
(usually foll by around or about) to be domineering or overbearing towards (others)
adjective
slang excellent; finea boss hand at carpentry; that's boss!
Word Origin for boss
C19: from Dutch baas master; probably related to Old High German basa aunt, Frisian baes master
British Dictionary definitions for boss (2 of 4)
boss2
/ (bɒs) /
noun
a knob, stud, or other circular rounded protuberance, esp an ornamental one on a vault, a ceiling, or a shield
biology any of various protuberances or swellings in plants and animals
- an area of increased thickness, usually cylindrical, that strengthens or provides room for a locating device on a shaft, hub of a wheel, etc
- a similar projection around a hole in a casting or fabricated component
an exposed rounded mass of igneous or metamorphic rock, esp the uppermost part of an underlying batholith
verb (tr)
to ornament with bosses; emboss
Word Origin for boss
C13: from Old French boce, from Vulgar Latin bottia (unattested); related to Italian bozza metal knob, swelling
British Dictionary definitions for boss (3 of 4)
boss3
bossy
/ (bɒs) /
noun plural bosses or bossies
a calf or cow
Word Origin for boss
C19: from dialect buss calf, perhaps ultimately from Latin bōs cow, ox
British Dictionary definitions for boss (4 of 4)
BOSS
/ (bɒs) /
n acronym for (formerly)
Bureau of State Security; a branch of the South African security police
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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