doss
Americannoun
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a place to sleep, especially in a cheap lodging house.
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I had some great doss last night, and I'm feeling pretty good today.
verb (used without object)
verb
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to sleep, esp in a dosshouse
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to pass time aimlessly
noun
Other Word Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
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has dossedperfect 3rd person singular
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have dossedperfect
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has been dossingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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have been dossingperfect progressive
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are dossingprogressive
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is dossingprogressive 3rd person singular
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am dossingprogressive 1st person singular
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dossingparticiple
-
dossessingular 3rd person
Past
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had dossedperfect
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was dossingprogressive singular
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had been dossingperfect progressive
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were dossingprogressive plural
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dossedsimple
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dossedparticiple
Future
Etymology
Origin of doss
First recorded in 1775–85; origin obscure; perhaps from French dos, from Latin dorsum, dossum “back, ridge”
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"The weather means they have not had much to do but doss around eating good grass," Mrs McGrath said.
From BBC • Apr. 19, 2021
“I was raised with the idea that the arts were a doss – but the arts are vital,” he continues.
From The Guardian • Dec. 30, 2016
The newcomers doss down in Atma's former police station.
From The Guardian • Jul. 25, 2012
One time, Pluto Noak opened the emergency exit for a doss.
From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell
“Then”—she pointed to the bonnet of the tractor—“you can doss there.”
From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
