dosser

¹ American  

[dos-er] / ˈdɒs ər /

noun

1. a basket for carrying objects on the back; pannier.

2. an ornamental covering for the back of a seat, especially a throne or the like.

3. dossal.

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dosser ² American  

[dos-er] / ˈdɒs ər /

noun

Chiefly British.

1. a person who sleeps in a doss house.

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dosser ¹ British  

/ ˈdɒsə /

noun

1. a person who sleeps in dosshouses

2. another word for dosshouse

3. a lazy person; idler

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dosser ² British  

/ ˈdɒsə /

noun

1. rare a bag or basket for carrying objects on the back

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Etymology

Origin of dosser¹

1300–50; Middle English < Anglo-French; Middle French dossier < Medieval Latin dosserium, variant of dorserium, equivalent to dors ( um ) back + -erium -ery; replacing Middle English dorser < Medieval Latin dorserium

Origin of dosser²

First recorded in 1865–70; doss + -er ¹

Example Sentences

Fury has incessantly taunted Usyk in social media posts over the past year or so, repeatedly labelling him a "dosser".

From BBC • Nov. 16, 2023

Banners dotted around a constituency calling MP Nadine Dorries a "dosser" were "embarrassing", the chair of the Mid Bedfordshire Conservatives said.

From BBC • Aug. 14, 2023

The actors perform adjectives instead of characters: a photographer is "perky"; a young woman is "buxom"; a dosser is "downtrodden" or "defiant"; a policeman – like much of the dialogue – is "plodding".

From The Guardian • Feb. 10, 2013

From time to time a ray of light passed between his legs, tracing a great quarter of a circle on the pavement; and in the shadow a man appeared with his dosser and his lantern.

From Sentimental Education Vol 1 by Flaubert, Gustave

“Vell, I didn’t go because of bein’ axed to go, you may be sure o’ that, but my little dosser, Tim Lumpy, you remember ’im?

From Dusty Diamonds Cut and Polished A Tale of City Arab Life and Adventure by Ballantyne, R. M. (Robert Michael)

Related Words

• drapery